PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STATE AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF WOMEN – FAMILY MEMBERS OF COMBATANTS: GROUNDS FOR THE FORMATION OF A HEALTH-RECREATIONAL COMMUNITY

Abstract

Military actions and post-war adaptation are accompanied by increased psycho-emotional strain in military families, which reduces quality of life and requires targeted health-recreational interventions. A promising approach involves integrating physical activity with psycho-emotional support within community formats. The aim – to analyze the indicators of the psycho-emotional state and quality of life of family members of combatants as a prerequisite for their unification into a health-recreational community. Materials and Methods. The survey involved 38 women of early adulthood – family members of combatants (informed consent, ethical compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki). The following methods were applied: HADS (anxiety/depression), V. Shcherbatykh’s stress test, V. Voitenko’s self-assessment of health, the “SAN” method (well-being – activity – mood), and the SF-36 questionnaire (quality of life). Statistical analysis included descriptive indicators, correlation analysis, medians, and interquartile range – Me (25 %; 75 %). The results. Subjective assessment of psycho-emotional state: “average” – 52,6 %, “below average” – 26,3 %, “low” – 7,9 %, “above average” – 13,2 %, “high” – 0,0 %. According to HADS, subclinical anxiety was found in 47,4 % and subclinical depression in 47,4 % of respondents; no clinical depression was detected. According to V. Shcherbatykh’s test: high stress – 50,0 %, pronounced – 34,2 %, moderate – 15,8 %. Self-assessed health (Voitenko): “satisfactory” – 55,26 %, “mediocre” – 31,58 %, “unsatisfactory” – 13,16 %. “SAN” results: well-being (x = 5,38; S = 0,41), activity (x = 5,64; S = 0,64), mood (x = 0,29; S = 0,25); significantly lower mood scores compared to both self-feeling and activity (Т = 0; z = 5,373; p < 0,001), while mood was inversely related to anxiety (r = −0,37) and depression (r = −0,39). Median scores for quality of life (SF-36) were as follows (in points): physical functioning – 90,0 (75,0; 100,0); role-physical functioning – 75,0 (0,0; 100,0); bodily pain – 72,0 (41,5; 100,0); general health – 55,0 (41,0; 69,5); social functioning – 62,5 (50,0; 87,5); vitality – 50,0 (30,0; 60,0); mental health – 56,0 (32,0; 72,0); and role-emotional functioning – 33,3 (0,0; 83,3). Role-emotional functioning was identified as the most vulnerable domain. The integral scores for the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) were 48,6 (41,9; 57,9) and 35,2 (28,2; 46,0), respectively. The psycho-emotional state and the psychological component of quality of life are significantly more impaired than the physical one. It is advisable to develop health-recreational communities for implementing programs combining leisure-time physical activity with mental fitness, relaxation practices, group support, and regular monitoring of psycho-emotional indicators.