Копинг-стратегии и жизнестойкость российской молодежи в социокультурном контексте «новых войн»

Introduction. This study examines subjective assessments of military conflict (SMO) and hardiness in Russian youth with different types of coherence and intensity of coping strategies. For the first time, these variables were studied among Russian youth from different “regional circles of proximity” to military conflict. Methods. The sample comprised 583 participants, males (n = 66) and females (n = 517) aged 17–39 years, residing in three “circles of proximity” to military conflict. Psychological assessment tools included a semi-structured interview, the Assessment of Extreme Events semantic differential scale by T.V. Parfenova, The Perceived Military Threat Scale by K.V. Karpinsky, the Hardiness Scale by S. Maddi and D. Khoshaba modified by E. N. Osin, and the Brief COPE self-completed questionnaire by C. Carver. Results. Young people in the first circle use psychoactive substances much more frequently and deny the extreme stress of the SMO context. The second circle respondents use the Challenge strategy more frequently. Respondents in the third circle use the Instrumental Support Seeking strategy more often. Four types of coherence and intensity between coping strategies and a military threat are distinguished in young people, including (a) Type 1 – active, accepting, adaptive, (b) Type 2 – passive, emotional, adaptive, social support seeking, (c) Type 3 – passive, accepting, adaptive, and (d) Type 4 - active, undifferentiated, non-adaptive. Discussion. Commitment and Challenge strategies are more typical of Type 1 and Type 3 respondents, compared to Type 2 and Type 4 respondents. The lowest level of hardiness was found in Type 4 respondents with high intensity of all coping strategies. In the context of military conflict, young people with conditionally adaptive reactions, focused on active strategies and positive reappraisal that enables them to rationally perceive the situation, to see it from different perspectives and to make life choices under these conditions, are the most resistant to stress.