The Role of Psychological Flexibility in Coping with War Trauma. On the Example of Ukrainian Citizens

Introduction: It is important to identify psychological resources involved in coping with threats. Such a resource is psychological flexibility. We analyze it not as a separate resource but rather as an aspect contained within other resources. The resources we used in research were: 1 identity styles, characterized by rational (flexible) and/or intuitive information processing and by various motivational components (collective/ social or personal); 2/ developmental dimension of psychological defense, with a predominance of task-oriented activities compared to emotion regulation-oriented activities. The aim of our research was to check relationship between subjective resources and ways of coping in the form of Post-traumatic stress disorder or Post-traumatic growth. Participants and methods: The study was conducted with the participation of n = 457 war refugees from Ukraine and Ukrainians remaining in the country; women (76.6%), men (23.4%), age M = 24.12; SD = 12.79. The study used: PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, PCL-5, as developed by Weathers et al. (2013), The Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory by Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996); Revised Identity Style Inventory, developed by Berzonsky et al., 2013 and The Psycho-Social and Psychic Defenses Questionnaire, developed by Senejko (2019). Results: Developmental dimension of psychological defense was a positive predictor of Post-traumatic growth and a negative predictor of Post-traumatic stress disorder. Informational and Diffuse-Avoidant identity styles were positive predictors of Post-traumatic stress disorder; Normative style was a positive predictor of Post-traumatic growth, while Informational style was negative predictor of it. Conclusions: Different mechanisms underlie reactions to Post-traumatic stress disorder and Post-traumatic growth: rational, flexible processes support Post-traumatic growth and weaken Post-traumatic stress disorder; intuitive processes intensify Post-traumatic stress disorder; structural, motivational aspects affect Post-traumatic growth.