Subjective trauma perception as a Distinctive predictor of somatization and disability during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Abstract

Objectives: This study examines the association between the Subjective Traumatic Outlook (STO), somatization, and physical and mental aspects of disability during wartime in Ukraine. It highlights the STO's role in emphasizing the perceptual component of trauma as a screening tool, distinguishing somatic symptoms alongside physical and psychological disability.

Method: A national sample of 1895 Ukrainians affected by the Russian invasion completed the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), the Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8), the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS), and the STO. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed with STO as the dependent variable, controlling for age, sex, marital status, and ICD-11 PTSD/CPTSD symptoms.

Results: Findings indicate that STO is significantly associated with somatization and all six disability domains. These associations remain robust when controlling for demographic variables and the effects of ICD-11 PTSD/CPTSD symptoms, suggesting that STO independently contributes to these outcomes.

Conclusion: The STO shows promise as a screening tool for somatization and physical and psychological impairments. This study underscores the importance of evaluating individuals' subjective trauma experiences to better understand the severity of somatic symptoms and impairment during wartime. The findings emphasize the STO's potential as a concise, effective measure for clinicians, particularly in wartime contexts.