MEANINGFUL ACTIVITY AS A FACTOR OF POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH IN ADULTS DURING WARTIME
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/cusu-psy-2025-2-18Keywords:
meaningful activity, post-traumatic growth, freedom, responsibility, decisionAbstract
The article explores the role of meaningful activity in posttraumatic growth (PTG) among adults in the context of war. The relevance of the topic is driven by the ongoing war and the lack of research on PTG in such circumstances.Meaningful activity is defined, from the perspective of existential analysis, as action through which a person realizes the most valuable opportunity available in a given situation. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 128 adults, predominantly civilian women, residing in Ukraine during the full-scale war unleashed by russia. Data were collected using a questionnaire, the War Experience Screening Scale, the short form of the PTSD Checklist, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the Existence Scale (subscales “Freedom” and “Responsibility”). The analysis employed correlational, regression, and mediation methods. The findings indicate that the predictors of PTG include the number of traumatic events experienced during the war, the frequency of meaningful activity, volunteering as a form of such activity, and existential freedom. Existential freedom was found to partially mediate the relationship between the frequency of meaningful activity and PTG. Satisfaction with relationships showed a positive correlation with PTG (especially with the “New Possibilities” subscale) and a negative correlation with PTSD symptoms. The study revealed that not the number of types of meaningful activities, but rather their personal value, plays a decisive role.Volunteering and educational activities for children were especially significant ways in which individuals found meaning. At the same time, no statistically significant relationship was found between PTG and PTSD symptoms.The study confirms the key role of meaningful activity and existential freedom in fostering posttraumatic growth in adults during wartime. The results have both theoretical and practical value, deepening the understanding of PTG mechanisms and offering guidance for developing psychosocial support, rehabilitation, and psychoeducational programs in the context of war.
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