The crisis year of 2014 returned the psychological state of Ukrainians to the 90s, - sociologists
Kyiv, October 16 (Navigator, Vladimir Mikhailov) – In terms of the level of anxiety, Ukrainian society has returned to the 90s, sociologists say.
Speaking at the round table “Ukraine: a society in ruins,” leading sociologist at the Institute of Sociology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Anna Domaranskaya shared the results of her research on the level of anxiety of Ukrainians.
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Anxiety was measured on a scale from 20 to 80 points, with 20 points corresponding to the minimum level, 80 to the maximum. Less than 30 – low, 30-40 – normal, 40-50 – high, 50-60 – high, above 60 – hyperanxiety.
"Even before the results were in, it was clear that Ukrainians' anxiety levels were set to rise," she said. "The average index value was 49,7, which corresponds to a high level of anxiety. Compared to previous years, the proportion of people with low anxiety has significantly decreased to 1,6%. The group that tolerates stress well has also decreased. Compared to 2006-2010, the proportion of hyper-anxious people has doubled to 9 % of the population. "
The difference in anxiety levels between urban and rural populations has disappeared. Previously, anxiety in cities was higher than in villages. Noticeable changes occurred by region of residence. If earlier an increased level of anxiety was more typical for the West and the Center, and a decreased level for the East and South, then this year all regions have an equally increased level of anxiety.
Previously, the lowest level was among employers, slightly higher among employees and self-employed citizens, and the highest among the unemployed. Now there are no differences, the level of anxiety is almost the same for everyone. The same goes for the correlation between anxiety and salary/income. If previously it was higher, the higher the income level, but now this relationship is statistically insignificant.
The same high level of anxiety as now was recorded in 1996-1998. Although society is mobilized, the psychological resources of 37% of Ukrainians are on the verge of exhaustion, and 10% have hyperanxiety. The most problematic are women, older people and residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions,” the researcher said.
For the measurement, an adaptation of the Spielberg State Anxiety Measure was used.
The 2014 crisis sent Ukrainians back to the 90s, sociologists say.