Frontline proximity and mental health: research on the correlation between the levels of anxiety, depression and residence

Abstract

the hypothesis underlying this study suggests that prolonged proximity to the frontline correlates with higher levels of anxiety and depression. This assumption has been supported by historical observations from previous conflicts, where war-affected populations closer to active combat zones exhibited more severe psychological distress compared to those in safer regions. However, contemporary warfare, characterized by advanced technological and digitalized combat strategies, challenges this traditional perspective. In the case of Ukraine, modern warfare has significantly expanded the reach of destruction far beyond the immediate frontlines. The widespread use of unmanned lethal drones, long-range precision-guided missiles, and hypersonic weaponry has rendered previously secure regions vulnerable to sudden attacks. For instance, air-launched hypersound missiles can reach any point within Europe’s largest country in a matter of minutes. Similarly, guided aerial strikes have demonstrated the capacity to target locations far from the eastern front, including as deep into Ukrainian territories as Prykarpattia and Zakarpattia, and since 21.11.2024 intercontinental ballistic missiles «Oreshnik» have also become a danger to the population across the entire territory of the country. These factors suggest that psychological distress may no longer be confined to frontline areas and should be distributed more broadly, necessitating a reassessment of the correlation between geographic proximity to conflict and mental health outcomes. Given these developments, empirical research on anxiety and depression in different regions is essential to either substantiate or refute the original hypothesis. The evolving nature of modern warfare underscores the need for updated psychological assessments to determine whether frontline proximity remains the primary determinant of mental health deterioration or whether the threat of long-range strikes has equalized distress levels across the country.