Mental health of the population in wartime depending on socio-demographic characteristics

Introduction: The ongoing war in Ukraine has significantly worsened the mental health of civilians. Socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, education, and employment status influence the psychological well-being of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees, yet their specific effects remain insufficiently studied. Objective: To identify the specifics of psycho-emotional states of different categories of the affected population by comparing IDPs and refugees. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 200 respondents (100 IDPs and 100 refugees). Standardized tools (PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-5) were applied. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, t-tests, χ²-tests, and multiple regression analysis. Results: Refugees showed significantly higher depression (PHQ-9: 12.6 ± 4.9) and anxiety (GAD-7: 11.8 ± 4.6) scores compared to IDPs (10.2 ± 4.3 and 9.5 ± 4.1, respectively). Conversely, PTSD symptoms were more severe in IDPs (PCL-5: 44.3 ± 13.2) than in refugees (39.7 ± 12.5). Employment emerged as a strong protective factor, reducing depression (β = –0.34), anxiety (β = ‑0.29), and PTSD (β = –0.25). Female gender and older age were significant predictors of increased psycho-emotional distress. Conclusions: Employment is the strongest protective factor, while women and older displaced Ukrainians face higher mental health risks. This first Ukrainian comparative study of IDPs and refugees by socio-demographic factors supports targeted psychosocial interventions and calls for longitudinal research during wartime.