Mental health, psychological wellbeing, and coping with stress by Ukrainian war refugees staying in Poland.

Ukrainian refugees in Poland showed significantly elevated psychological distress as measured by the DASS-21.

• Sample comprised N=290 adult participants, 91.7% female, mean age 43.6 years
• Participants were recruited through social workers and psychologists working in Collective Accommodation Centers and Integration Centers in Poland
• Depression, Anxiety, and Stress symptoms were assessed using the DASS-21
• Due to the small number of male participants (n=24, 8.3%), gender was not included as a variable in the analyses

Older age, partnered status, and skills-matched employment were identified as key independent predictors of depression among Ukrainian refugees.

• Multivariate regression models were used to identify independent predictors of mental health, wellbeing, and coping
• Older age and partnered status were negative predictors of depression
• Skills-matched employment was identified as a predictor of depression
• Only 23.5% of the highly educated sample held skills-matched employment positions

Higher education and partnered status were negative predictors of anxiety, while older age was a negative predictor of stress.

• Higher education was identified as a negative predictor of anxiety in multivariate regression models
• Partnered status was also a negative predictor of anxiety
• Older age was a negative predictor of stress symptoms
• These findings suggest younger adults and unpartnered individuals represent higher-risk groups for anxiety and stress

Skills-matched employment emerged as a predictor of psychological wellbeing as measured by the PERMA-Profiler.

• Psychological wellbeing was assessed using the PERMA-Profiler
• Only 23.5% of the highly educated sample held skills-matched employment positions
• The sample was described as 'highly educated,' suggesting significant occupational downgrading among refugees
• Skills-matched employment was identified as both a mental health and wellbeing predictor

Access to information, receipt of psychological assistance, and current employment were predictors of problem-focused coping, while psychological assistance alone predicted emotion-focused coping.

• Coping strategies were assessed using the Brief-COPE instrument
• Access to information was a predictor of problem-focused coping
• Receipt of psychological assistance predicted both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping
• Current employment was a predictor of problem-focused coping
• Avoidant coping showed no significant model fit in the regression analyses

The study identified modifiable post-migration factors as important targets for refugee mental health intervention and adaptation.

• Modifiable factors identified included skills-matched employment, access to information about legal rights and available services, and psychological assistance
• Policy priorities recommended include early mental health screening targeting younger adults and unpartnered individuals
• Facilitation of skills-matched employment was identified as a policy priority
• Culturally sensitive interventions promoting adaptive coping mechanisms were recommended
• The findings were described as underscoring 'the critical need for comprehensive, evidence-based mental health interventions and accessible psychosocial support'