Gaming and mental health among Ukraine university students in wartime conditions

The Russia–Ukraine war generates fear, depression, loneliness, burnout, and the search for coping strategies that can alleviate the impact of war on mental health among civilians. In wartime, online gaming can become a coping strategy and/or a source of risk for internet gaming disorder (IGD). Our study examines the association of online gaming use and mental health among 1,170 Ukrainian university students in wartime conditions. Survey respondents were from six cities divided into two clusters. The first cluster included Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv with much damage; and the second cluster of cities—Lviv, Rivne, and Ternopil with less damage. Respondent average age was 19.3 years, 30.4% secular and 31.7% married/partnered. Most respondents (66.2%) used online gaming during the past year. Statistical analysis does not show significant gaming disorder differences among university cluster students; however, first cluster students evidenced significant fear of war, depression, and burnout. Additional analysis shows a positive association between IGD, depression, burnout, and loneliness as well as a negative association with resilience and life satisfaction. Research findings confirm online game use as a resource that maintains or promotes resilience. Internet gaming, used as a therapeutic intervention for disaster conditions, calls for further research conducted over time with different groups of people and locations.