Psychological Adaptation During Prolonged War-Related Stress in Ukraine: A Narrative Review

Background and aims: Civilian populations exposed to prolonged stress, loss, illness, displacement, and other uncontrollable life events demonstrate substantial variability in psychological adaptation. Contemporary research suggests that psychological outcomes are influenced not only by the severity of adversity but also by patterns of cognitive-emotional processing, including locus of control, rumination, self-compassion, and meaning-making. The ongoing war in Ukraine represents a distinct context in which civilians must adapt not after the cessation of trauma, but while recurrent threat, displacement, loss, and disruption of everyday life continue. The aim of this narrative review was to examine psychological and neurobiological mechanisms associated with the preservation of agency during prolonged war-related stress and to define their practical implications for civilian mental health care in Ukraine.