Assoc. prof. A.O. Parasiei-Hocher1, assoc. prof. O.V. Frolova1, O.T. Manik2
1Ukrainian Institute of Arts and Sciences
2Interregional Academy of Personnel Management
The article presents the results of an empirical study on trait and state anxiety among middle-aged men and women in the context of armed conflict. The main objective of the research was to identify gender differences in anxiety levels and analyze their correlations with other psycho-emotional indicators such as frustration, aggressiveness, rigidity, and life meaning orientations. The study employed the Spielberger–Hanin anxiety scale, which allows for a clear distinction between state (situational) and trait anxiety. The findings revealed that women demonstrate higher levels of both state and trait anxiety compared to men. A strong correlation between the two types of anxiety was identified, particularly among women, indicating a heightened emotional response to stress. It was also found that life meaning orientations (goals, process, and life effectiveness) negatively correlate with anxiety and frustration, emphasizing their protective psychological function. Behavioral observations confirmed the test-based findings: women appeared to be more emotionally expressive, reported higher anxiety, and showed greater need for social support, whereas men more often responded with aggression or emotional restraint. In summary, war is shown to be a powerful situational factor that increases anxiety levels in both genders; however, women display higher emotional vulnerability. The obtained data may be applied in the development of psychological support and prevention programs, taking into account gender-specific patterns of emotional response during crisis situations.
Key words: anxiety, state anxiety, trait anxiety, gender differences, war-related stress, frustration, aggressiveness, rigidity, life meaning orientations, psycho-emotional state.
https://doi.org/10.15407/internalmed2025.02.124
References:
1. Metodyka «Shkala tryvozhnosti Spilberhera–Khanina» \[The “Spielberger–Khanin Anxiety Scale” method\] \[Internet\]. Available from: https://www.scribd.com/document/853112208/. (Ukrainian).