Examining terror management theory in Ukraine: impact of air-raid alarms and explosions on mental health, somatic symptoms, and well-being.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study sought to evaluate Terror Management Theory (TMT) assumptions about death awareness and its psychological impact in the context of a real-world war situation with high external validity. We examined if factors such as habituation to war circumstances and psychological resilience could buffer the effects on civilians' anxiety, physical and mental health, and affect.

Method

We implemented a pre-registered smartphone-based experience sampling method study over four weeks, with 307 participants (k = 7,824) living in war-affected areas in Ukraine whereby participants were regularly exposed to war situations, including air-raid alarms, explosions, and infrastructural problems.

Results

The data indicated that war situations significantly increased

SUBMITTER: Stieger S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10644072 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature