Braving the Dark: Mental Health Challenges and Academic Performance of Ukrainian University Students During the War

Abstract Purpose The paper aims to analyse the impact of mental health problems on the academic performance of university students using data from a cross-sectional survey of Ukrainian university students during the war. The prevalence of mental health problems among students with their subsequent division into different severity groups is investigated.Methods The study combines a cross-sectional survey method to collect data and a regression analysis technique to identify mental health problems that have the most negative impact on students' academic performance during the war. The survey questionnaire includes a demographic section, mental health screening tools, as well as Work Productivity and Activity Impairment: Special Health Problems (WPAI: SHP) section, adapted for the purpose of the study. The data sample includes responses from 1398 university students from different regions of Ukraine.Results According to survey data 85.8% of all respondents had depression symptoms, 66.1% – anxiety symptoms, 56.9% – symptoms of sleep disorder, and 48.1% – PTSD symptoms. Results of econometric modeling confirms the devastating effect of mental health problems on academic performance of university students during the war, in particular, a severe depression symptoms, anxiety disorder symptoms and sleep disorder symptoms are associated with 17.4%, 12.2% and 11.0% decrease in academic performance of university students, respectively.Conclusion The prevalence of mental health problems and related academic performance impairment among students during wartime become a challenge for the successful recovery of Ukrainian society and therefore require a quick response at both the institutional and public policy levels.