Selves under armed siege: identity threat and coping styles among Ukrainian civilians during the Russian-Ukraine war

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Abstract This study is grounded in Identity Process Theory (IPT), a framework for understanding identity threat and the coping styles individuals adopt in response. IPT posits that personal identity is constructed around core principles such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, continuity, and distinctiveness, and that threats to these principles negatively impact mental health. The Russian-Ukrainian war, accompanied by rhetoric denying Ukraine’s legitimacy, poses a significant threat to Ukrainian identity. This cross-sectional study examines the association between identity threat and coping styles, and explores differences by current residence, sex, and personal exposure to the death of someone personally known. The sample consisted of 335 individuals, aged 18 to 72 years ( M = 36.8; SD = 10.04), 86.3% of whom were female, all residing in Ukraine at the onset of the war. Participants completed surveys on identity threat, coping styles, and socio-demographic characteristics. Identity threat was positively correlated with most coping styles, particularly concealment and denial. No significant differences were found between individuals who left Ukraine and those who remained in terms of identity threat or coping styles. No significant differences were found based on personal exposure to death during the conflict. Males scored higher on concealment, while females scored higher on denial. These findings highlight the relevance of different coping responses to war-related identity threats and the need for psychological interventions tailored to individual coping patterns. Supporting flexible and context-sensitive coping may help mitigate the psychological impact of sustained identity threats during conflict.

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