PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMUNICATIVE ABILITIES OF ADOLESCENTS IN FRONTLINE REGIONS

Abstract

The article examines the issue of the formation and development of communicative abilities in adolescents living in frontline regions. Through interaction with peers and adults, adolescents realize various aspects of communicative processes, including information exchange, enhancement of interaction skills, development of empathy, establishment of contacts with individuals of the opposite sex, assimilation of gender roles, achievement of independence from adults, and improvement of communicative culture. Based on an analysis of scientific literature, it is established that the development of adolescents’ communicative skills occurs during a period of age-related crisis, which, according to researchers, is driven by the discrepancy between adolescents’ subjective sense of adulthood and their actual capabilities. The study presents the results of empirical research concerning adolescents in frontline areas who regularly face shelling, disruptions in electricity and heating, communication breakdowns, and infrastructure destruction. The findings indicate that communicative skills facilitate the achievement of communicative goals, self-expression, and social adaptation. These skills encompass the ability to articulate thoughts clearly, listen attentively, ask questions, interpret nonverbal cues, resolve conflicts, and collaborate effectively. The development of communicative abilities is particularly crucial during adolescence, a period dominated by intimate-personal communication and driven by the needs for self-assertion, recognition as an adult, and popularity among peers. In frontline regions, these processes are hindered by psychological stress caused by shelling, destruction, and restricted interactions with others. The empirical study revealed that most surveyed adolescents in frontline regions exhibit a satisfactory level of sociability but a low level of development in communicative abilities. Based on these findings, it is concluded that targeted efforts are necessary to develop communicative skills to enhance social adaptation and psychological well-being among these adolescents.