Tracking changes in anxiety, depression, and stress among Ukrainian university students: a three-wave study from the COVID-19 pandemic to two years of ongoing full-scale war

Background: Since 2020, modern youth in Ukraine have faced an exceptionally challenging period, first enduring the burdens of the COVID-19 pandemic and then being thrust into the full-scale war, characterized by persistent traumatic exposure. Given the profound and lasting psychological consequences of such crises, it is essential to monitor the long-term impact of war on youth mental health. However, despite the urgency of this issue, longitudinal studies with large, diverse samples remain scarce.