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Psychological well-being in Europe after the outbreak of war in Ukraine

Author

Listed:
  • Julian Scharbert

    (University of Münster)

  • Sarah Humberg

    (University of Münster)

  • Lara Kroencke

    (University of Münster)

  • Thomas Reiter

    (University of Munich)

  • Sophia Sakel

    (University of Munich)

  • Julian Horst

    (Osnabrück University)

  • Katharina Utesch

    (University of Münster)

  • Samuel D. Gosling

    (University of Texas at Austin
    The University of Melbourne)

  • Gabriella Harari

    (Stanford University)

  • Sandra C. Matz

    (Columbia University)

  • Ramona Schoedel

    (University of Munich)

  • Clemens Stachl

    (University of St. Gallen)

  • Natalia M. A. Aguilar

    (National University of the Northeast)

  • Dayana Amante

    (Catholic University of Cuyo)

  • Sibele D. Aquino

    (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro)

  • Franco Bastias

    (University of Konstanz)

  • Alireza Bornamanesh

    (Isfahan University of Medical Sciences)

  • Chloe Bracegirdle

    (University of Oxford)

  • Luís A. M. Campos

    (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro
    Catholic University of Petrópolis)

  • Bruno Chauvin

    (University of Strasbourg)

  • Nicoleen Coetzee

    (University of Pretoria)

  • Anna Dorfman

    (Bar Ilan University)

  • Monika Santos

    (University of South Africa)

  • Rita W. El-Haddad

    (American University of Kuwait)

  • Malgorzata Fajkowska

    (Polish Academy of Sciences)

  • Asli Göncü-Köse

    (Çankaya University)

  • Augusto Gnisci

    (University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli)

  • Stavros Hadjisolomou

    (American University of Kuwait)

  • William W. Hale

    (Utrecht University)

  • Maayan Katzir

    (Bar Ilan University)

  • Lili Khechuashvili

    (Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University)

  • Alexander Kirchner-Häusler

    (University of Sussex)

  • Patrick F. Kotzur

    (Durham University)

  • Sarah Kritzler

    (Ruhr University Bochum)

  • Jackson G. Lu

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Gustavo D. S. Machado

    (Federal University of Santa Catarina)

  • Khatuna Martskvishvili

    (Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University)

  • Francesca Mottola

    (University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli)

  • Martin Obschonka

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Stefania Paolini

    (Durham University)

  • Marco Perugini

    (University of Milan-Bicocca)

  • Odile Rohmer

    (University of Strasbourg)

  • Yasser Saeedian

    (Deakin University)

  • Ida Sergi

    (University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli)

  • Maor Shani

    (Osnabrück University)

  • Ewa Skimina

    (SWPS University)

  • Luke D. Smillie

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Sanaz Talaifar

    (Imperial College London)

  • Thomas Talhelm

    (The University of Chicago)

  • Tülüce Tokat

    (Verona University)

  • Ana Torres

    (Federal University of Paraíba)

  • Claudio V. Torres

    (University of Brasilia)

  • Jasper Assche

    (Ghent University
    Université Libre de Bruxelles)

  • Liuqing Wei

    (Hubei University)

  • Aslı Yalçın

    (Çankaya University)

  • Maarten Zalk

    (Osnabrück University)

  • Markus Bühner

    (University of Munich)

  • Mitja D. Back

    (University of Münster
    University of Münster and Bielefeld University)

Abstract

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has had devastating effects on the Ukrainian population and the global economy, environment, and political order. However, little is known about the psychological states surrounding the outbreak of war, particularly the mental well-being of individuals outside Ukraine. Here, we present a longitudinal experience-sampling study of a convenience sample from 17 European countries (total participants = 1,341, total assessments = 44,894, countries with >100 participants = 5) that allows us to track well-being levels across countries during the weeks surrounding the outbreak of war. Our data show a significant decline in well-being on the day of the Russian invasion. Recovery over the following weeks was associated with an individual’s personality but was not statistically significantly associated with their age, gender, subjective social status, and political orientation. In general, well-being was lower on days when the war was more salient on social media. Our results demonstrate the need to consider the psychological implications of the Russo-Ukrainian war next to its humanitarian, economic, and ecological consequences.

Suggested Citation

  • Julian Scharbert & Sarah Humberg & Lara Kroencke & Thomas Reiter & Sophia Sakel & Julian Horst & Katharina Utesch & Samuel D. Gosling & Gabriella Harari & Sandra C. Matz & Ramona Schoedel & Clemens St, 2024. "Psychological well-being in Europe after the outbreak of war in Ukraine," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-44693-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44693-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bates, Douglas & Mächler, Martin & Bolker, Ben & Walker, Steve, 2015. "Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Using lme4," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 67(i01).
    2. Mohamed Behnassi & Mahjoub El Haiba, 2022. "Implications of the Russia–Ukraine war for global food security," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(6), pages 754-755, June.
    3. Rehdanz, Katrin & Welsch, Heinz & Narita, Daiju & Okubo, Toshihiro, 2015. "Well-being effects of a major natural disaster: The case of Fukushima," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 500-517.
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