INFLUENCE OF FACTORS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG UKRAINIANS STUDYING IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN MEDICAL SPECIALTIES IN NEW REALITIES

Abstract

Topicality. Mental health is one of the most important and serious problems because it is a leading factor in labour productivity and contributes to the country’s economic development. The potential of any nation depends on youth and young professionals studying in higher educational institutions. Therefore, it was decided to conduct a study on the psycho-emotional state of student youth and develop strategies to improve mental health.Purpose of the study: to investigate the impact of different forms of education on the psycho-emotional state ofstudents studying in higher educational institutions in medical specialities during the introduction of martial law and the conduct of active hostilities on the territory of Ukraine. To study the feasibility of introducing a blended form of educationand the impact of different forms of education on the quality of knowledge obtained.The study used the following methods: bibliosemantic analysis, survey methods, sociological approach, medical-statistical methods, systematic approach and content analysis, and structural-logical analysis.Results of the study. The results of the study showed that the emotional state of Ukrainian students significantly changes depending on the form of study during the war. Students studying in full-time forms of study noted that the quality of education improved after they switched from online studying. Most surveyed students are satisfied with the quality of the education received. Namely, 86.8 ± 3.37 % and only 13.2 ± 3.37 % remain dissatisfied. The assessment of thecollected data showed that more than half of the respondents, namely 56.0 ± 4.82 %, believe that receiving education inthe form of online studying affects the quality of knowledge received, only 16.2 ± 3.67 % noted that online studying does not affect the quality of education at all, and 27.8 ± 4.47 % of respondents believe that receiving education in the form of online studying does not affect, but rather affects the quality of knowledge received. At the same time, 82.1 ± 3.83 % ofrespondents believe that the online studying format is optimal and more appropriate, and 17.9 ± 3.83 % of respondentsnote that the online studying format is unacceptable even during the introduction of martial law. According to the survey,81.7 ± 3.86 % of students noted a deterioration in their psycho-emotional state during the transition to full-time education under martial law, and only 18.3 ± 3.86 % of respondents did not feel that they had any changes in their psycho-emotional state. The transition to the education system is stressful for students primarily due to ongoing hostilities, constant air raids, and sleep disturbances due to a combination of all factors.Conclusions. The study’s results demonstrate students’ readiness to adapt to new circumstances. They also demonstrate the need to continue studying and evaluating existing psychological support programs that improve their mental health and adaptive capabilities. They also demonstrate the need to develop new support programs that meet the needs of students in stressful and emergencies.