SUPPORTING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN UKRAINE DURING THE WAR IN THE CONTEXT OF YOUTH CENTRE ACTIVITIES

Abstract

The article is devoted to the theoretical and empirical analysis of the psychological well-being of young people in the context of the war in Ukraine and the role of youth centres in supporting it. The paper substantiates the relevance of the problem given the high level of stress factors caused by military events, which manifest themselves in increased anxiety, the risk of developing post-traumatic disorders, identity crises and a decrease in the motivation of the younger generation. Theoretical analysis has shown that the phenomenon of psychological well-being is interpreted in modern science as an integral construct that combines emotional, cognitive, value-semantic and social components, and its study is carried out within the framework of hedonistic, eudemonistic and existentialhumanistic approaches. Particular attention is paid to models of psychological well-being, as well as research on the impact of global crises on the well-being of young people. A special place is given to the phenomenon of resilience, which is considered a key factor in maintaining emotional stability and adaptation in crisis conditions. In practical terms, the emphasis is on the activities of youth centres, which serve as safe spaces for social interaction, psychoeducation and the implementation of support programmes. In the empirical part of the study, a comparison was made of the psychological well-being of two groups: active participants in the youth centre and a control group. The results showed statistically significant differences: young people involved in the centre’s work showed higher levels of psychological well-being, life satisfaction and positive affect, while those who did not attend the youth centre showed predominantly hopelessness and negative emotions. This confirmed the hypothesis about the positive impact of youth centres on the psycho-emotional state of young people in wartime. It was concluded that systematic support for youth centres is an important institutional resource for maintaining the psychological well-being of the younger generation, as it ensures the formation of emotional stability, social integration and positive life orientations. The results of the study are of practical value for the development of effective programmes of psychosocial assistance and prevention of destructive states in young people.