CHANGES IN AN INDIVIDUAL’S TRUST IN THE WORLD, PEOPLE, AND SELF DURING MILITARY ACTIONS

Abstract

The article examines an individual’s internal resource such as basic trust in the world, other people, oneself and its changes during the martial law in the country. The work purpose was to conduct a study on Ukrainians’ fundamental assumptions about the world, other people, and oneself, to compare its results with those of the previous study conducted in 2023 in order to identify how fundamental assumptions has changed during several years of the war. Citizens of Ukraine from all regions, recruited on a voluntary basis through the mechanism of social advertising on Facebook, took part in the survey. Fundamental assumptions were studied using the appropriate scale of R. Janoff-Bulman in Ukrainian translation. Results: The 2025 study revealed a decrease in fundamental assumptions compared of to the normative (pre-war) data. Additionally, in the 20025 study, some indicators changed at a statistically significant level compared to the study-2023, and at the same time, the results as for fundamental assumptions worsened. The very fact of the war caused doubts about the world around. The further deterioration of the Benevolence of People indicator can be explained by the development of general exhaustion due to the war. The decreased Controllability indicator indicates that Ukrainians are increasingly losing faith that their own efforts are enough to improve their lives. The Randomness indicator has increased slightly, which suggests that the war is no longer understood as an “accident” and it will end quickly, but has become a negative life background. Although in general, we did not find a further deterioration in the indicators included in the integral Self-worth indicator in the sample, a deterioration was observed in a subgroup of respondents who were physically injured during military operations. Direct physical suffering significantly reduces a person’s self-confidence, since the invisible contract between a person’s will and their capabilities is destroyed. The results obtained indicate a significant deterioration in the mental health of Ukrainians, the depletion of their mental reserves.