Visnyk of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Series Psychology

Metaphorical Activation of Personal Resource Experience in the Process of Overcoming Situational Anxiety

2025-12-31T19:18:36+00:00

Metaphorical means of reducing situational anxiety in individuals are investigated. The aim of the study is to determine the possibilities of significantly reducing situational anxiety in mature individuals through the appropriate, phased, and personal resource activation-oriented use of metaphorical associative cards (MAC) from the «Cope» set. The study involved 54 mature Ukrainian citizens, including 33 women and 21 men aged 30 to 55 (Me = 40). The following methods were used in the empirical study: the «Coрe» set of metaphorical associative cards (to activate the problematic experience; desired changes in the state and resource experience of the subjects); C. Spielberger's method (to diagnose the level of reactive (situational) and personal anxiety); the Freiburg Personality Questionnaire, Form B (to determine maladaptive mental states). Using the MAC, the following were activated in stages: problematic experience, ideas about the desired state; ideas about obstacles to the desired state; ideas about resources; return to ideas about problematic experience. Results. A significant increase in situational anxiety was found after the stage of activating the problematic experience both in the general group of subjects (Z=-5.968; p< .001), and in subgroups of subjects with high (t=-6.776; p< .001) and moderate (t=-4.497; p< .001) personal and initial situational anxiety. A significant reduction in situational anxiety relative to baseline levels was observed, with a large statistical effect (Cohen's d), as a result of the phased application of MAC in the general group (t=11.259; p< .001; d=1.532) and in subgroups of subjects with high (t=9.890; p < .001; d=1.806) and moderate (t=7.683; p< .001; d=1.568) personality and initial situational anxiety. Conclusions. Appropriate, phased, comprehensive activation through the use of MAC and metaphors of personal experience related to the identification of subjectively significant problematic contradictions, desired mental states, obstacles to desired changes, and personal resources for action through integration processes contribute to a significant reduction in situational anxiety in the subjects.

Psychological Well-Being of Working Women Depending on Marital Status

2025-12-31T19:18:38+00:00

The psychological well-being of Ukrainian women in modern conditions is shaped by the influence of prolonged military operations and is characterized by contradictions and heterogeneity. The transformation of social and family roles, the combination of professional workload with family responsibilities, the presence or absence of partner support, as well as the actualization of life meaning issues , personal growth and self-realization are the main factors shaping women’s psychological well-being. The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics of working women psychological well-being with different family statuses and identify factors that increase or decrease its level. The results showed that marriage, combined with professional employment, acts as a resource factor, contributing to harmonious interpersonal relationships, a positive attitude towards oneself, and control over life circumstances. Married women are focused on maintaining the stability of family and social relationships, while unmarried women are focused on self-expression, external attractiveness, and professional achievements. The psychological well-being of married women is associated with deeper emotional involvement in work and integration of professional and family roles, while in unmarried women it is determined by activity and emotional involvement in professional activities.

Self-Perception of Ukrainian Refugee Women in Germany: An Empirical Study

2025-12-31T19:18:40+00:00

This article presents the results of an empirical study of the psychological characteristics of self-perception and self-esteem among Ukrainian refugee women who were forced to relocate to Germany after the full-scale Russian invasion. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to understand how the loss of pre-war social status, professional identity and habitual social roles affects the integrity of the self-image and psychological well-being of women in a new sociocultural environment. The aim of the study was to identify the relationships between self-perception, global self-esteem, level of aspirations, pre-war social status, current employment status in Germany, and indicators of psychological well-being. The sample consisted of 50 Ukrainian women aged 25–45 who had been living in Germany for at least 12 months. Data were collected using a modified Dembo–Rubinstein scale (indices Δ Loss and Δ Expectation), a self-esteem scale (Ryff modification), a self-perception questionnaire based on the client-centred approach of C. Rogers in O. Diamond’s adaptation, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale by C. Ryff, supplemented by socio-demographic variables (pre-war status, employment). The results showed that most respondents demonstrate moderate to high levels of perceived loss, with the highest Δ Loss found among women who had high pre-war social status and are currently unemployed. These women are characterised by a more fragmented self-image, decreased self-acceptance and lower scores on autonomy and environmental mastery, while dimensions such as personal growth and purpose in life remain relatively preserved. Correlation analysis revealed significant negative links between Δ Loss and self-esteem (r = –0.56), self-perception (r = –0.62) and overall psychological well-being (r = –0.48), as well as between Δ Expectation and self-perception (r = –0.41). Pre-war social status positively correlates with Δ Loss (r = +0.52) and negatively with self-perception, indicating deeper experiences of loss and difficulty integrating the previous self-image into the new reality. Employed women show higher levels of self-esteem, self-acceptance, autonomy and environmental mastery, together with lower Δ Loss scores, compared to unemployed participants. The findings underscore the role of self-perception as a key personal resource for adaptation and highlight the risk of a “stabilised dependence” on social benefits in part of the high-status group. The results have theoretical and practical implications for the development of psychological support programmes for refugee women that combine work with the self-image, reconstruction of meaning and realistic life goals with support for employment and professional self-realisation as important protective factors.

Digital adaptation of the individual to a system of uncertainty: levels of subjectivity and freedom

2025-12-31T19:18:41+00:00

The article considers the modern digitalized society as a multi-level system in conditions of uncertainty, functioning in the paradigms of VUCA and BANI. Purpose: to describe individual types of human adaptation to digital environments as indicators of levels of freedom and subjectivity of the individual in the conditions of the VUCA/BANI system. Research methods: repeated analysis and interpretation of data obtained within the framework of human adaptation to digitalization study(O. Ronzhes, 2025). The total sample of the study (March 2020 - October 2024) included 479 people aged 16 to 75 years. All subjects identified themselves as Ukrainians and are users of digital technologies.

The personality in such a system is treated as an active element capable of adaptation, freedom and subjectivity. Based on a psychophysiological experiment using EEG diagnostics and latent profile analysis (LPA), four profiles of individual adaptation to digital environments were identified: “Adaptive leaders”, “Balanced adapters”, “Adaptive novices” and “Vulnerable under pressure”. A typology of levels of subjectivity and types of freedom in digital systems is proposed, as well as a thematic comparison of adaptation profiles with levels of systemic uncertainty. The presented model allows us to understand better the features of the individual presence of a person in the digital environment, which acts as a component of the modern world of uncertainty. The results of the study have the potential for implementation in the field of digital education, UX design, psychological support for users of digital technologies and the development of inclusive digital ecosystems.

Differential Analysis of Personality Disorders and Affective Disorders

2025-12-31T19:18:43+00:00

The article considers the problem of differential differences between severe personality disorders and affective spectrum disorders. A comparative analysis of symptoms, behavioral manifestations, and features of the development of these disorders is conducted. The leading differences in the structure of personality functioning are identified, as well as common internal mental processes inherent in both personality and affective disorders. Severe personality disorders of the borderline level of organization are characterized by a stable diffusion of identity in the personality structure, which is associated with traumatic or stressful conditions of development and disintegration of emotional experience. Affective spectrum disorders are determined by neurobiological disorders in mental functioning, which determine the periodicity of the occurrence of affective disorders and are associated with both genetic factors and stressful experience. Cognitive disorders of affective stimuli volitional control are defined as internal mental processes inherent in both personality and affective disorders, which determine the similarity of their symptoms and behavioral manifestations. Based on the results of the comparative analysis, it is proposed to consider the diffusion of identity in the structure of an adult personality as a differential sign of severe personality disorders. The article will be useful for practicing psychologists and psychotherapists who face difficulties in conducting differential diagnostics of severe personality disorders of the emotionally unstable type.

Doomscrolling as a Form of Digital Self-Harm

2025-12-31T19:18:45+00:00

The article provides a theoretical analysis of modern domestic and foreign publications on the phenomenon of “doomscrolling”, which is considered not only as a behavioral habit, but also as a potential form of digital self-harm. The goal of our study was to prove that doomscrolling has characteristics that bring it closer to digital self-harm. Based on recent publications, it was proven that doomscrolling – as a form of digital self-harm – has a multifactorial nature. The mechanisms of doomscrolling are described, the main causes, psychological and behavioral consequences of doomscrolling in modern Ukrainians are identified. Practical recommendations are offered for preventing and overcoming doomscrolling. According to the results of the study, it was established that doomscrolling has characteristics that bring it closer to digital self-harm. Doomscrolling is significantly correlated with increased levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms, emotional burnout, and cognitive overstrain. Constant exposure to negative information flows activates stress response mechanisms – increased cortisol levels, emotional instability, sleep disturbances, and decreased concentration. We have proven that doomscrolling is a complex multifactorial phenomenon that combines both psychological and socio-technological components.

An Integral Model for Structuring the Ecological Space of Family Relations in the Context of War

2025-12-31T19:18:47+00:00

The article provides a theoretical substantiation of forming an ecological space problem in family relationships under the conditions of the full-scale war in Ukraine. It is demonstrated that the war radically reshapes the living conditions of families, causing losses, forced displacement, economic instability, constant danger, and the disruption of social ties, all of which substantially intensify the psychological load on the family system. The appropriateness of using the concept of the “ecological space of family relationships” as an integral characteristic of interaction quality among family members is justified. This concept encompasses psychological safety, mutual respect, emotional support, opportunities for the authentic expression of experiences, and conditions for the development of each family member while maintaining family unity. The theoretical foundation of the integral model is grounded in the principles of systemic family therapy, the ecological approach, and the concept of family resilience, which together allow for a combined analysis of the family’s internal dynamics and the external wartime context. Four key parameters of the ecological space are distinguished: adaptive balance, need provision, transformational development, and the projective perspective of the future. Internal factors (values, emotional culture, communication patterns, role structures, boundaries, and support practices) and external factors (security situation, housing conditions, access to services, economic state, and social support) that determine the ecological quality of the family system are outlined. A diagnostic tool for assessing ecological quality – the «Family Relationship Ecological Index» – is presented. This instrument enables the construction of a family profile across the four parameters and the identification of risk zones and resources. The article also describes the structure of a socio-psychological family support program, which includes stabilization-diagnostic, resource-restorative, therapeutic-interventional, and project-oriented stages. The program is designed to enhance the ecological quality of family interactions, strengthen family resilience, and create a safe and resource-rich developmental environment.

Psychological Defenses in the Process of Grieving: A Comparison of Individuals with Different Levels of Personality Organization

2025-12-31T19:18:48+00:00

The article is devoted to the study of the features of the use of psychological defense mechanisms in the process of grieving in individuals with different levels of personality organization. The aim of the work is to compare the specifics of the manifestation of defenses in people with neurotic, borderline and psychotic levels of structural integration, as well as to determine their impact on the nature of adaptation to loss course. The empirical study was conducted using the STIPO-R (Structured Interview of Personality Organization – Revised) method, which allows for a comprehensive assessment of the level of personal organization according to such parameters as identity, object relations, impulse control, defense mechanisms and integration of moral norms. The results of the study showed that individuals with a neurotic level of organization more often use adaptive defenses (intellectualization, rationalization and control), which contributes to a more controlled and constructive experience of grief. In the group with a borderline level, the prevalence of partially adaptive mechanisms (passive aggression, devaluation, dissociation) was noted, which causes fluctuations between avoidance and experiencing loss. In contrast, in respondents with a psychotic level of organization, primitive and maladaptive defenses (denial, projection, splitting) dominate, which is associated with the chaotic nature of emotions, anxiety, and difficulties in integrating the experience of loss. The obtained data indicate the significance of the structural level of the personality in the formation of reactions to loss and confirm the importance of individualized psychological support strategies. The STIPO-R method turned out to be an effective tool for differentiating types of defenses and predicting the characteristics of the grief experience, which makes it valuable for further clinical and practical research.

The Relationship Between Psychological Resilience, Coping Strategies, and Combat Stress Among Military Personnel in Combat Conditions

2025-12-31T19:18:50+00:00

The relevance of this study is driven by the growing psychological burden experienced by members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the context of active combat operations. These conditions are marked by extreme stress, exposure to life-threatening situations, loss of comrades, and high levels of uncertainty, requiring deeper insight into psychological adaptation mechanisms. Particular attention is paid to the interaction between personal variables such as psychological resilience and coping strategies in relation to combat stress levels. The aim of this article is to examine the interrelations between psychological resilience, types of coping strategies, and combat stress among military personnel with direct combat experience. The study sample included 120 service members (86% male, 14% female) aged 22 to 48 years. Standardized psychodiagnostic tools were used: the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the COPE inventory to assess dominant coping styles, and the Combat Exposure Scale (CES) to evaluate combat stress levels. The findings demonstrate statistically significant correlations between the studied constructs. Psychological resilience negatively correlates with combat stress, while active coping strategies show a positive relationship with resilience and a negative one with combat stress. Avoidant coping strategies, conversely, are positively correlated with combat stress. Regression analysis revealed that psychological resilience is a significant predictor of reduced combat stress, whereas coping strategies alone do not exhibit a substantial predictive effect. In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of enhancing psychological resilience as a key resource for safeguarding the mental health of military personnel. It also emphasizes the need for targeted psychological interventions aimed at reducing maladaptive coping and fostering more effective stress management strategies. The findings have practical applications in the development of training programs, military psychological diagnostics, and post-combat rehabilitation.

Socio-Psychological Adaptation in Connection with Emotional Intelligence and Personality Traits in Adolescent Girls

2025-12-31T19:18:52+00:00

The study is devoted to studying the relationship between socio-psychological adaptation with emotional intelligence (EI) and personality traits in girls of early and late adolescence. For empirical measurements, the socio-psychological adaptation questionnaire by K. Rogers and R. Diamond, the EI diagnostic method by N. Hall, and the Big Five questionnaire by R. McCrae and P. Costa were used. According to the results of the study of socio-psychological adaptation, it was found that both in early and late adolescence, adaptation in general and self-acceptance in particular are above average, acceptance of others, emotional comfort, dominance, and escapism are average. Self-motivation, empathy, and overall emotional intelligence are presented in late adolescence by a third higher than in early adolescence. Recognition of other people's emotions in late adolescent girls is developed at an average level, and in early adolescent girls at a low level. According to the correlation analysis, adaptation in adolescent girls is associated with emotional intelligence. In early adolescence, adaptability and its components of self-acceptance, acceptance of others, and dominance correlate with all aspects of EI. Internal control is associated with self-motivation and emotional awareness, emotional comfort - additionally with empathy and recognition of other people's emotions. In adolescent girls, adaptability in general and its aspects are mainly associated with such personality traits as openness to new experiences and conscientiousness. In early adolescence, adaptability in general, internal control, and dominance correlate with both traits, only with openness to new experiences - self-acceptance and emotional comfort. In late adolescence, adaptability in general, self-acceptance and dominance correlate with both traits, only with conscientiousness – internal control, only with openness to new experience – emotional comfort. In early adolescence, the desire to dominate is balanced by a connection with benevolence. At both age subperiods, escapism is associated with neuroticism, and emotional comfort with extraversion. The results of the correlation analysis indicate that in adolescent girls, adaptability, emotional intelligence and personality traits are closely related, with correlations having their own specificity in early and late adolescence.

Interconnection of Velue Sphere and Addictive Behavior in Adolescence

2025-12-31T19:18:54+00:00

In the period of adolescence, characterized by an identity crisis and an active search for own "I," addictive behavior can act as a kind of temporary way to overcome internal tension, reduce emotional discomfort and restore a subjective sense of well-being, despite possible negative consequences for the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of an individual. In conditions of war conflict, unstable socio-economic situation and general decrease in the sense of security, age-related crises are especially aggravated, which increases the risks of the formation of destructive strategies of behavior among young people. Young men, due to an insufficiently formed value system, immature mechanisms of self-regulation and increased emotional vulnerability, are more inclined to use addictive models as means of achieving internal balance. In the proposed article, a theoretical analysis of addictive behavior formation problem in adolescence is carried out, attention is focused on the relationship between the value sphere of an individual and the tendency to dependent forms of response. The results of an empirical study confirming the existence of a statistically significant relationship between individual value orientations and the level of risk to develop addictive behavior are presented. On the basis of the obtained results, the need to develop and implement targeted psychoprophylactic measures is substantiated. The article offers an author's training program aimed at developing adaptation resources of young men, increasing awareness of their own life priorities and the formation of constructive ways to overcome stressful situations. The implementation of such programs has a preventive effect and can significantly reduce the level of addictive behavior among young people in the conditions of modern social challenges. The psychological methods used include empirical (questionnaires) and mathematical statistics methods (descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation analysis).

Features of Coping Strategies of Adolescents with Deviant Behavior

2025-12-31T19:18:55+00:00

The article examines the coping strategies of adolescents with signs of deviant behavior. The aim is to identify the most common strategies and their relationship with various forms of deviance, as well as to identify age differences in their use. The war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine significantly affected the psychological state of adolescents, increasing the level of stress and adaptation needs. Adolescence is a crisis period of identity formation and social adaptation, so the study of coping is particularly relevant. The study was conducted on a sample of 132 adolescents aged 12–17. The tendency to deviant behavior was assessed using the A. Orel test, and coping was assessed using the R. Lazarus questionnaire. Age differences were identified: in the 16–17-year-old group, the level of aggression, addictive and self-destructive behavior increases, and volitional control decreases. Pearson correlation analysis showed the presence of weak, moderate, pronounced and strong statistically significant relationships between maladaptive coping strategies (escape-avoidance, distancing, confrontational coping) and the tendency to risky behavior. In contrast, adaptive strategies (self-control, planning, support seeking) had moderate and pronounced negative correlations with deviance indicators, which confirms their protective role. The results obtained indicate that coping strategies can act as both a risk factor and a resource of psychological protection, influencing the behavioral manifestations of adolescents. This justifies the need to implement psychological programs in educational institutions to develop adaptive coping skills and prevent maladaptive behavior.

The Impact of Sexual Abuse Experience on the Life Scenarios Manifestations of Middle-Aged Women

2025-12-31T19:18:58+00:00

The article presents the results of a comprehensive study of the psychological specifics of the impact of sexual violence experiences on the formation and manifestation of life scripts in middle-aged women. The relevance of the research is determined by the growing socio-psychological challenges associated with overcoming the consequences of traumatic events that lead to profound changes in the cognitive, emotional, motivational-value, and behavioral spheres of personality. A life script is conceptualized as an integrated system of meanings, attitudes, and behavioral strategies that determine adaptation, self-realization, and the construction of interpersonal relationships in middle adulthood. The aim of the study was to identify the structural characteristics and correlation relationships between the components of life scripts and the experience of sexual violence, with a particular focus on the possibilities of post-traumatic reconstruction. The methodological framework was based on typological, parametric, and nomothetic approaches implemented within an empirical research design. The study was conducted on a sample of 60 middle-aged women who had survived sexual violence. A set of psychodiagnostic instruments was applied to assess cognitive schemas of post-traumatic experience, emotional reactivity, value-motivational orientations, and behavioral coping strategies. Statistical data processing was carried out using Kendall’s correlation coefficient, which made it possible to identify stable associative links between the indicators. The findings confirmed the presence of a close integration of negative cognitive-affective constructs (self-blame, destructive beliefs about the self and the world, denial of traumatic experience) and maladaptive behavioral patterns. At the same time, pronounced manifestations of post-traumatic growth were revealed, representing positive transformations of the meaning system, increased appreciation of life, expansion of life opportunities, and strengthening of internal resilience. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the restoration of trust in others and the formation of new existential meanings act as key factors in the reconstruction of a traumatic life script. The conclusions substantiate that the experience of sexual violence, although it determines stable maladaptive patterns, simultaneously creates the potential for profound change and development. The proposed empirical model can serve as a basis for the development of crisis-oriented psychological support programs aimed at integrating traumatic experiences and fostering resource-oriented life strategies.

Psychological Diagnostics During Pregnancy And In The Postpartum Period: Methods Review

2025-12-31T19:19:00+00:00

The article is devoted to a scientific analysis 9 of psychological problem diagnostics during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. It is proved that the current state of the mentioned problem in Ukrainian psychological science and practice is in crisis due to the absence or small number of psychodiagnostic methods adapted to the Ukrainian-speaking environment. Modern trends related to the orientation towards Western psychodiagnostics are still quite illusory, and the use of Russian-language methods has become impossible. This situation is observed in all areas of psychological practice, including perinatal psychology. The article provides an analytical review of scientific sources, which present the results and describe the methods of empirical research on the psychological aspects of pregnancy, such as: a woman's attitude towards pregnancy, manifested by various types of the psychological component of gestational dominance; mother's and father's attachment to the unborn child; motives for maintaining pregnancy; perinatal and postpartum anxiety; postpartum depression. The main methods of psychological diagnostics that are most often used for research are analyzed (I.V. Dobryakov's pregnant attitude test, MFA, PAI and MAAS methods for determining attachment to the child, L. Rabovalyuk's method for studying the motives for maintaining pregnancy, the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale and Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire – Revised-2, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, the Correa-Barrick Postpartum Depression Scale). One of the models of the psychodiagnostic component of the program of psychological support for pregnant women, developed by Ukrainian scientists, is presented, which is aimed at assessing the psychoemotional sphere of a pregnant woman, the characteristics of her personality, self-esteem, value orientations, and the woman's attitude to the situation of pregnancy, the unborn child, and motherhood in general. The differentiated approach to psychological diagnostics is emphasized, depending on the method of fertilization and the course of pregnancy. An approach to creating a psychodiagnostic complex for its use in psychological support of pregnant women, based on modern regulatory documents of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, is proposed.

Ukrainian-Language Version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-UA): Adaptation and Psychometric Validation

2025-12-31T19:19:03+00:00

Objective. The aim of this study was to adapt the original Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) for the Ukrainian-speaking and to develop its Ukrainian version—the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory–Ukrainian (PTGI-UA)—for practical application in psychological work with military personnel, veterans, and individuals with combat experience. Methods. The study involved a full translation and cultural adaptation of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory into Ukrainian, followed by an evaluation of its psychometric properties. The translation process included standard forward- and back-translation procedures. The study sample consisted of 508 male military personnel. The initial sample also included female participants (n = 27); however, due to substantial gender imbalance and in order to ensure the validity of statistical analyses, data from female participants were excluded from further analyses. Statistical procedures included descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), assessment of internal consistency, evaluation of convergent and discriminant validity, and testing of measurement invariance.

Results. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the hierarchical structure of the Ukrainian version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-UA). In this model, posttraumatic growth was represented as a second-order latent factor encompassing five first-order factors: personal strength, new possibilities, improved relationships, spiritual growth, and appreciation of life. Model fit indices indicated a high level of correspondence between the theoretical model and the empirical data (CFI = 0.997, TLI = 0.996, SRMR = 0.041, RMSEA = 0.053). Conclusion. The Ukrainian version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-UA) meets established criteria for reliability and validity and can be recommended for use among Ukrainian-speaking military personnel and veterans in both clinical practice and research settings. Further validation is advised for other populations.

The Theoretical Basis for Developing a Musical Composition for the Regulation of an Individual’s Psycho-Emotional States

2025-12-31T19:19:06+00:00

The article presents an integration of psychological and musicological concepts that formed the basis for developing a narrative-based music therapy cycle inspired by Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, The Hero’s Journey. Against the background of current trends in music therapy, the study highlights a notable lack of structured, coherent programs that employ narrative principles. The relevance of such an approach is linked to the growing emotional exhaustion, feelings of helplessness, and diminished self-confidence among people in Ukraine, as well as the limited accessibility of individual psychotherapy — factors that intensify the need for widely available, technologically accessible self-regulation tools. The proposed cycle combines music as a familiar and accessible medium for emotional influence, methods of active imagination, elements of katathymic-imaginative therapy integrated into verbal instructions, and the archetypal structure of the Hero’s Journey. The stimulus material is oriented toward a gentle, non-directive influence: music and narrative work together to contain emotional experience and gradually shift the listener’s affective state. The article further outlines the technical principles of creating the music–narrative cycle using modern digital technologies, the organisation of voice guidance, and the function of silence as an existential pause within the experiential process. The material is presented as a programmed audio cycle consisting of eight sequential verbal–musical fragments (total duration: 29 minutes), each corresponding to a specific stage of the symbolic hero’s path — from entering the imaginative space, clarifying the request, and identifying resources to the climactic overcoming of internal resistance, the experience of transformation, and the return to renewed everyday life. The article details the selection of tonalities, tempi, textures, timbres, and algorithmic noise patterns, as well as approaches to designing verbal instructions that support a sense of safety, facilitate imagination, and encourage emotional containment and reflection. Preliminary effectiveness is demonstrated through a pilot study (n = 86), which showed increases in positive emotions and self-esteem, along with reductions in anxiety and acute depressive experiences after a single listening session (Klimusheva, Yanovskaya, Tetska, Turenko, 2025). The article concludes by outlining potential applications of the developed music therapy tool in individual and group work, online formats, educational and preventative programs, and by identifying directions for future empirical research on narrative receptive music therapy in the Ukrainian context.

Critical Review of Psychometric Properties of Projective Techniques: The Case of the Lüscher Color Test and the Szondi Test

2025-12-31T19:19:10+00:00

The article presents a critical analysis of the psychometric properties of two widely used projective techniques: the Luscher Color Test and the Szondi Test. The study aimed to synthesize data on their validity, reliability, and theoretical foundations through a review of scientific sources (Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar). Results indicate that the Luscher Test demonstrates low convergent validity (no correlations with MMPI, IPAT), unstable test-retest reliability (mean r ≈ 0.33–0.37), and lack of measurement invariance due to cultural, gender, and age influences on color preferences. Effects of social desirability and the Barnum effect were identified. The Szondi Test exhibits significant stimulus validity issues (photo selection driven by visual characteristics/social stereotypes), unconfirmed criterion validity (minimal correlation with PCL-R), undefined factor structure, and low test-retest reliability. Its theoretical basis (genotropism) contradicts modern classifications of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR, ICD-11). Both instruments, alongside other projective techniques (e.g., Koch’s Tree Test), are labeled by researchers as "probably" or "certainly discredited" due to insufficient evidence of psychometric soundness. Their use risks misdiagnosis, erroneous expert conclusions (including in legal settings), and undermines psychology’s scientific credibility. The conclusion emphasizes that developers bear responsibility for demonstrating scientific validity, and only tools with empirically confirmed psychometric properties are suitable for professional application.

Ukrainian Adaptation of the Existential Anxiety Questionnaire (EAQ) for Adolescents

2025-12-31T19:19:12+00:00

This article presents the results of developing and validating a Ukrainian-language adaptation of the existential anxiety questionnaire (EAQ) for adolescents. The sample included 141 students in grades 10-11, aged 14-17 (M = 15.8 years, SD = 0.71, 85 girls and 56 boys). An analysis of the questionnaire factor structure revealed that inverse statements, which refer to the absence of guilt, trust in fate, and the absence of doubts about previous meanings of life, interfere with the diagnosis of existential anxiety. A shortened 7-item questionnaire is proposed, which includes six statements describing three types of existential anxiety manifestations, along with a statement about belief in the meaning of life in general. Empirical grounds for considering existential anxiety as a single-factor construct are provided. The internal consistency (ω = 0.76) of the abbreviated Ukrainian-language version of the Existential Anxiety Questionnaire for Adolescents (EAQ-UA) was confirmed. Moderate positive correlations of existential anxiety with the Beck Anxiety Inventory and eco-anxiety scores, as well as a weaker negative correlation with life satisfaction and a positive correlation with negative experiences, support convergent validity. The absence of a significant correlation with positive experiences and a weak correlation with rumination support the discriminant validity of the abbreviated version of the EAQ-UA.

Do Different People Believe in a Just World Differently? Study of it Specialists in the Context of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

2025-12-31T19:19:13+00:00

The current study utilized cluster analysis to investigate the different configurations of Personal Belief in a Just World (PBJW) and General Belief in a Just World (GBJW) among Ukrainian IT -specialists and explored how these distinct justice belief profiles relate to Subjective Well-being (SWB), encompassing life satisfaction (SWL) and emotional well-being (SSWB) and Existential Fulfillment (EF) in the dramatically shifted context from peacetime (2021) to wartime (2022). This approach provided insight into the functioning of this established psychological resource under conditions of extreme uncertainty and military aggression. Sample:177 IT-specialists (86 men, 71 women): 80 during 2021 peacetime, 77 in 2022, after Russia's invasion. Methods: Belief in a Just World scale (Dalbert, 1999), Test of Fundamental Motivation (Eckhardt, 2001), Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985), Scale of Subjective Well-being (Perrudet-Badoux et al., 1988). Foundlings: The study identified five distinct profiles of personal and general justice beliefs, showing that these components do not always coincide. The findings confirmed the adaptive role of PBJW for well-being and highlighted a compensatory function of GBJW under wartime conditions. By examining BJW profiles across peaceful and wartime periods, the study expands existing evidence by demonstrating both the stability of these profiles and their sensitivity to major societal disruptions.

Adaptation of the Ukrainian Version of Autonomous Career Motivation Scale

2025-12-31T19:19:14+00:00

The paper aims to present the results of adaptation of the Ukrainian version of Autonomous Career Motivation Scale (Sverko & Babarović, 2024). Methods. At the preparatory stage of adaptation the double translation procedure was carried out for the Ukrainian version of the scale to correspond as closely as possible to the original one. After that, the equivalence between the original scale and its translated version was assessed. The study sample (N=336) included: 1) high school students (14-17 y. o.) – 68.15%; 2) first year university students (17-20 y. o.) – 31.85%. The gender distribution of respondents was following: 1) female – 65.18%; 2) male – 30.36%; 3) unidentified – 4.46%. Results. The results of the study confirm theoretical structure of the Scale, which is consistent with previous conceptual ideas about the measurement construct. Exploratory factor analysis allowed us to identify a clear factor structure that supports the hypotheses about the multidimensionality of the concept and indicates the sociocultural stability of the model. Conformational factor analysis showed high indicators of model compliance, which proves the adequacy of the chosen structure, however, some accuracy indicators demonstrate potential for further improvement of the model. The reliability of the scales is at an acceptable and high level, wh0ich confirms their consistency, homogeneity and ability to stably reflect the measured construct. Convergent and discriminant validity of the Scale are also confirmed, which demonstrates the ability of the Scales to correlate with the corresponding items and at the same time distinguish between different constructs. The high discriminantity of the scales indicates the effectiveness of the tool in distinguishing different aspects of career motivation, which is important for further use of the questionnaire in empirical research and for achieving practical goals by psychologists, career counsellors, etc. Conclusions. The Ukrainian version of Autonomous Career Motivation Scale shows a number of high psychometric indicators, which allow to positively assess the factor structure (model), reliability, construct, convergent and discriminant validity and discriminantity of its subscales. Obtained results indicate the effectiveness of using this Scale to measure autonomous career motivation, while indicating directions for further optimization of the model.

Mechanisms of Emergence and Development of Compassion Fatigue inthe Nurses’ Professional Activity

2025-12-31T19:19:16+00:00

The article provides a comprehensive theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of compassion fatigue in nurses. The relevance of the topic is due to the increase in the emotional burden on medical personnel in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, military operations in Ukraine, and the increase in the number of complex clinical cases among patients. Compassion fatigue is considered as a result of prolonged emotional involvement in the process of caring for patients, which is accompanied by constant empathy and dedication, especially in complex departments. Modern scientific approaches to understanding the mechanisms of this condition are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the views of foreign and Ukrainian researchers who study the relationship between compassion fatigue and secondary traumatization, emotional burnout, and moral distress. The role of individual (level of empathy, emotional stability) and organizational factors (lack of support, overload, lack of clear algorithms of actions in difficult situations) is revealed. It is outlined that the greatest vulnerability to the development of compassion fatigue is demonstrated by nurses who are constantly in contact with patients in stressful conditions and do not have sufficient professional or psychological support. It is emphasized that compassion fatigue should be considered as a separate psycho-emotional phenomenon that has a multifactorial origin and manifests itself in changes in the cognitive, emotional and physiological spheres of the personality. The main symptoms of the syndrome are systematized: anxiety, decreased motivation, loss of empathy, psychosomatic disorders. The key mechanisms of this condition development are identified, namely, constant emotional involvement in the suffering of others, a shortage of resources for recovery, insufficient professional training for crisis situations. In conclusion, it is noted that overcoming compassion fatigue requires a comprehensive approach. Promising directions for further research are proposed - empirical study of the state of compassion fatigue in nurses of various specializations with the subsequent implementation of psychological programs to support them.