Impact of stressors of academic activities under martial law on the cadets’ mental health

Abstract

Aim: The aim is to investigate the mental health indicators of cadets during their stressful academic training under martial law. Materials and Methods: The research, which was conducted in the academic year 2023-2024, involved 253 male cadets of the 1st-4th training years at the National Academy of Internal Affairs (Kyiv, Ukraine). Research methods: theoretical analysis and generalization of literary sources, mental health testing, and methods of mathematical statistics. Seven psycho-diagnostic methods were used to test the cadets’ mental health. Results: The results obtained indicate a pronounced negative impact of stressors of academic activities under martial law on the cadets’ mental health and, in particular, on the level of manifestation of stress disorders, a tendency to develop stress, reduced stress resistance, increased nervous and emotional stress, anxiety, and deterioration of the emotional state. The most pronounced negative changes in these indicators of mental health were found in cadets who have not developed skills to cope with stress during academic activities and the use of effective means of stress prevention and restoration of psycho-emotional state (junior cadets). Conclusions: The research demonstrates the urgent need to develop cadets’ stress resistance during academic training to ensure the effectiveness of their educational activities under martial law and further service activities, as well as to develop skills in the use of available means to prevent stressful phenomena in the process of education during the war.