The Impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War on Mental Health and Stress-Coping Strategies in Central and Eastern Europe

With the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War, the mental health of residents of Ukraine and many other countries deteriorated. The conducted study aimed to assess mental health and the effectiveness of stress-coping strategies in the 34th month of the Russo-Ukrainian War. The study examined the mental health of 2,962 residents in 4 countries. The research sample was selected using a stratified random sampling method. A cross-sectional survey collected data primarily via online panel samples from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. The results of the conducted studies showed that the highest levels of stress-related symptoms, anxiety and depression were observed in Poland, whereas the lowest levels were observed in the Czech Republic. In all the surveyed countries, problem-focused coping strategies predominated among the respondents. Emotion-focused coping strategies were used less frequently. The results of linear regression analyses indicated that the main predictors of mental health disorders were younger age, lower perceived quality of life, and emotion-focused strategies for coping with stress. Among Polish respondents, problem-focused coping strategies proved effective in reducing symptoms of mental health disorders. The results of the study suggest that the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian War may have been associated with a deterioration in mental health in Central and Eastern European countries. This situation requires attention and monitoring by health services, as well as the development of effective measures to improve the mental health of populations in countries neighbouring Ukraine. Keywords: Mental health, distress, anxiety, depression, stress-coping strategies, Central and Eastern Europe.