Ukraine’s Well-Being: Stability Amid Growing Anxiety
According to the results of the second phase of a public opinion study conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in collaboration with international partners, Ukrainians’ sense of internal well-being remains relatively stable despite ongoing hardships related to the war.
The survey, carried out in December 2024 through telephone interviews involving over a thousand respondents from territories under Ukrainian government control, reveals that the population continues to find meaning in their lives.
This psychological resource is particularly vital amid the ongoing uncertainty and challenges facing the country.
The analysis focused on key indicators such as life satisfaction, happiness levels, sense of purpose, and anxiety, revealing various notable trends.
Most notably, feelings of purpose remain the highest and most stable among the measured parameters, averaging 7.1 out of 10.
At the same time, overall life satisfaction has gradually increased to approximately 5.4.
A significant finding concerns the rise in average anxiety levels among Ukrainians, indicating increased psychological stress across society, yet many still maintain relatively high levels of happiness and purpose.
Residents of rural areas and western regions of the country tend to report higher well-being scores, while internally displaced persons and residents of regional centers tend to score slightly lower.
Nearly half of the population experiences heightened anxiety, emphasizing the ongoing psychological toll and the need for further social support resources.
Gender differences also emerged: women report higher levels of purpose and happiness, while men show a tendency toward increased anxiety, reflecting different emotional reactions to the social challenges.
Among older adults over 60, levels of happiness are the lowest, and anxiety is the highest, whereas young adults aged 18-29 exhibit more emotional variability, experiencing both elevated happiness and significant fluctuations in anxiety.
Internally displaced individuals, often facing loss of social ties and disrupted routines, report lower satisfaction and sense of life purpose, highlighting the psychological impact of forced relocation.
Overall, the study underscores that despite increasing anxiety, most Ukrainians continue to find psychological resilience through a sense of purpose and hope.
The research was conducted as part of a global initiative called Social ROI, aimed at assessing the impact and effectiveness of interventions on public well-being.