Gender-related differences of stress reactions in Ukrainian combatants

Abstract

The overall current prevalence of clinically significant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms across the sample was estimated at 20%. The mean symptoms severity was 15.98 (95% CI 12.67-19.27) with no statistically significant difference between men and women (p=0.251). The PTSD symptoms were twice more severe in the military exposed to war zone stress for 2 or more years, compared to others. Anxiety and alexithymia levels had significant gender differences. Anxiety was more pronounced in women compared to men (7.11 vs 5.29; p=0.041); and alexithymia levels were higher in men compared to women (63.17 vs 56.43; p=0,032). The problem of PTSD in the military is extremely relevant in Ukrainian reality. It requires urgent attention in the form of adaptation and implementation of effective therapeutic methods with proven efficacy for PTSD, such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and/or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.