PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN UKRAINIANS’ ADAPTATION TO WARTIME UNCERTAINTY: STRESS, RESILIENCE, AND PREREQUISITES FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR

Abstract

The article substantiates the psychological factors underlying Ukrainians’ adaptation to prolonged wartime uncertainty and reveals their influence on the transformation of the population’s economic behavior. The relevance of the study is determined by the widespread prevalence of stress, increasing financial difficulties, narrowing planning horizons, and the need to preserve resilience under wartime conditions. The purpose of the study is to determine the role of stress, resilience, and adaptability in the formation of new consumer, saving, labor, and resource-conserving strategies. The methods of theoretical analysis, systematization, and generalization of scientific sources were applied, along with a secondary analysis of the results of the Mind Frames study conducted among different age and social groups of the Ukrainian population. It was established that a high level of stress intensifies risk perception, reduces emotional stability, shortens the time horizon of decision-making, and may lead to cautious, situational, or impulsive behavior. Resilience is defined as a psychological resource that mitigates the destructive effects of stress and supports self-regulation, social activity, and the ability to engage in economic planning. It is demonstrated that the transformation of Ukrainians’ economic behavior occurs at the intersection of psychological, social, and economic factors and manifests itself in reduced non-essential spending, the search for stable sources of income, the creation of financial reserves, the avoidance of excessive risk, and the growing role of family support. The practical significance of the findings lies in their potential use in developing psychological support programs and enhancing the financial resilience and social adaptation of vulnerable population groups.