Mental health of preadolescents in western Ukraine: feasibility and acceptability of a school-based psychosocial intervention during war
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Background: Children living in conflict zones experience high levels of psychological distress. Schools can provide an accessible setting for support, yet evidence on the effectiveness of school-based interventions in active war contexts remains limited.Objectives: To evaluate children’s well-being and internal coping resources during the war in Ukraine and to examine the feasibility of a school-based program designed to enhance psychological well-being in preadolescents.Participants and setting: The study involved 81 children aged 10–12 years from schools in Lviv, Ukraine. Methods: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, quality of life, self-compassion, and mindfulness traits were assessed using standard questionnaires and validated psychometric scales. The intervention program, delivered at school, focused on mindfulness, self-compassion, social connection, sense of purpose, and trauma processing. Acceptability and perceived impact were explored post-intervention among children, families, and school staff. Results: 42% of children reported four or more ACEs. 39.5% of children exceeded the clinical cutoff for probable PTSD on the Children’s Revised Impact of Event Scale CRIES-8, with differences observed between boys and girls. Higher levels of self-compassion and mindfulness were associated with lower PTSD symptoms. Children, families, and school staff reported improvements in children’s well-being, emotion regulation, and social functioning after the intervention.Conclusions: Our work provides preliminary evidence of the feasibility and acceptability of a school-based intervention designed to promote children’s psychological well-being and mental health during ongoing war, with positive perceived impacts reported by children, families, and school staff. Interventions incorporating mindfulness and self-compassion training may represent promising approaches for reducing trauma-related symptoms in children exposed to adversity. Larger controlled studies using standardized measures are needed to assess effectiveness before broader dissemination can be considered.
Source: PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints)
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7221081704