Subjective well-being in wartime: The role of age and gender

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of subjective well-being and ill-being among civilians amidst the uncertainties of war, with a specific focus on age and gender factors. The study involved 147 civilians aged 17 to 49 living in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Zhytomyr. A six-cluster subjective well-being scale was used. The results showed that the subjective well-being of Ukrainians was generally at an average level. Analysis of the key components of subjective well-being revealed certain differences depending on the age and gender of the participants. The findings indicated that only 2% of respondents reported complete subjective well-being, 22% experienced moderate emotional comfort, 64% reported a typical level of well-being, 10% tended towards depression and anxiety, and 2% experienced significant emotional discomfort. Age differences were observed: younger respondents (17-21 years) were more prone to high levels of psycho-emotional stress, rated their health more negatively, and experienced greater social isolation. In contrast, older participants (36 years and above) demonstrated better adaptation to adverse circumstances and were less affected by negative emotions. While older individuals reported lower mood scores, they also indicated higher satisfaction with their daily routines. Among all age groups, those aged 22-35 displayed the most favourable indicators of subjective well-being. Gender differences revealed that men showed slightly more signs of subjective ill-being compared to women. Men exhibited higher levels of stress and psycho-emotional symptoms, whereas women demonstrated a stronger tendency towards mood decline. These findings may inform professionals in psychological support, education, social work, and public administration in identifying at-risk groups, determining priority areas for intervention, and tailoring support to the specific needs of different demographic groups – particularly young people, older adults, women, and men – in order to enhance psychological resilience and quality of life under prolonged crisis conditions