Interpersonal Relationships Ecological Quality in Adults at Wartime

  • Oksana Pavlenko G. S. Kostyuk Institute of Psychology of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1263-4989
Keywords: interpersonal relationships, ecological approach war, mental health, subjectivity, well-being

Abstract

The article provides a theoretical justification of ecological interpersonal relationships problem among adults in full-scale war in Ukraine context. It is shown that war, causing stress increased levels of anxiety, uncertainty, and traumatic experience accumulation, significantly affects the interpersonal interaction quality. At the same time, constructive relationships serve as an important resource for reducing psychological tension and supporting recovery after traumatic events. The aim of the article is to theoretically substantiate the ecological interpersonal relationships essence and to identify their key parameters in wartime conditions. The research methods include theoretical scientific approaches analysis, contemporary psychological concepts generalization, and ecological space structure modeling in interpersonal relationships. As a result of the study, within the ecological approach, “ecological interpersonal relationships”concept is clarified and defined as those that ensure safe emotional closeness, mutual support, mental health and subjective well-being preservation, and contribute to the relationship systems stability under prolonged stress condition. The key parameters of interpersonal relationships ecological space are identified: subjectivity (responsibility in relationships and acceptance of the other), as well as interaction characteristics such as trust, support, and nonviolent communication. A diagnostic tool for assessing ecological quality level in interpersonal space has been developed and tested. The pilot study results confirm its applicability in psychological practice, particularly in support programs for adults in wartime conditions.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Karamushka, L. M. (2022). Training program «How to preserve and support the mental health of educational personnel in war conditions»: content, structure, procedure. Kyiv Journal of Modern Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2(4), 24–45. https://doi.org/10.48020/mppj.2022.02.03 [in Ukrainian].

Shvalb, A., Yanovska, S., & Perelyhina, L. (2025). Features of resilience and coping strategies of the civilian population of Ukraine during the full-scale war: The role of social support. Visnyk of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Series Psychology, (78), 46–52. https://doi.org/10.26565/2225-7756-2025-78-07 [in Ukrainian].

Shvalb, Y. M., Varava, L. A., Vernik, O. L., Kyrpenko, T. M., Pavlenko, O. V., & Diachok, O. M. (2024). Features of personal life strategies under conditions of environmental uncertainty. Retrieved from https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/742906/ [in Ukrainian].

Shvalb, Y. M., Vernik, O. L., Vovchyk-Blakytna, O. O., Kyrpenko, T. M., Pavlenko, O. V., & Rudomino-Dusiatska, O. V. (2021). Ecological and psychological determinants of subjective well-being of personality. Kyiv–Lviv: Vydavets Viktoriia Kundelska. Retrieved from https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/728490/1/Shvalb_2021.pdf [in Ukrainian].

Shvalb, Y. M., Vernik, O. L., & Pavlenko, O. V. (2025). Methodology for studying personal well-being. Organizational Psychology. Economic Psychology, 1(34), 170–180. https://doi.org/10.31108/2.2025.1.34.15 [in Ukrainian].

Christie, D. J., Wagner, R. V., & Winter, D. D. (2001). Peace psychology: Theory, research, and practice. Journal of Social Issues, 57(2), 387–405. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00218

Dowgwillo, E. A., & Ruchensky, J. R. (2024). The influence of trauma symptoms on interpersonal attributions in daily life. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 37(3), 410–421. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.23036

Horowski, J. (2021). Harm, forgiveness and the subjectivity of the victim. Philosophia, 50(3), 1175–1188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11406-021-00446-z

Jønsson, T. F., & Fasano, M. C. (2025). Theorizing subjective responsibility. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, Article 1548931. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1548931

Leonardi, J., Righi, S., & Tani, F. (2022). Understanding interpersonal guilt: Development and validation of a scale. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 63(5), 433–444. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12854

Li, Q., Ren, X., Zhou, Z., & Wang, J. (2023). Reciprocal relationships between self-control and self-authenticity: A two-wave study. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1207230. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1207230

Mangone, E. (2021). Altruistic relationships, responsibility, and sociology. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, 55(4), 1094–1108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-021-09523-y

Predko, V., Schabus, M., & Danyliuk, I. (2023). Psychological characteristics of the relationship between mental health and hardiness of Ukrainians during the war. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1282326. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1282326

Steele, M. (2020). Attachment and trauma in adulthood. Current Opinion in Psychology, 34, 105–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.04.005

Wang, Y., Wang, D., Liu, H., & Chen, Y. (2021). Social support and resilience in the context of crises: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10), Article 5032. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105032

Zhao, M., Chen, X., & Li, Y. (2023). Can treating oneself kindly inspire trust? The mediating role of interpersonal responsibility. The Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2023.2283474

Published
2026-05-28
Cited
How to Cite
Pavlenko, O. (2026). Interpersonal Relationships Ecological Quality in Adults at Wartime. Visnyk of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Series Psychology, (80), 41-46. https://doi.org/10.26565/2225-7756-2026-80-05