Vol. 9 No. 1(18) (2026): Modern Psychology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46991/
Published: 2026-05-26

Full Issue

Articles

  • Articles

    THE EFFECTS OF ARMED CONFLICT CONDITIONS ON PERSONALITY ADAPTATION MECHANISMS: A REGRESSION ANALYSIS

    Anastasiia Shumarova
    View PDF
    Abstract

    This article examines the influence of the psychological conditions of prolonged armed conflict on personality adaptation mechanisms among civilians under direct and indirect conflict exposure. The relevance of the study is determined by the insufficient understanding of adaptation among individuals for whom the threat has not ended, as well as by the limitations of PTSD-oriented models in describing conditions of ongoing traumatization. The theoretical framework of the study is the concept of continuous traumatic stress (CTS), within which armed conflict is considered as a prolonged context of civilian life that includes both conditions of continuing threat and specific responses to them. The aim of the study is to identify how conflict-related conditions influence defense mechanisms and coping strategies through internal personality factors in groups exposed to the conflict directly and indirectly. The empirical part of the study was conducted within a quasi-experimental comparative design with two naturally formed groups. The model was tested using mediation regression analysis in PROCESS v4.2 for SPSS; dominant states and world assumptions were examined as mediators. The results showed that the influence of conflict-related conditions on adaptive mechanisms is predominantly mediated and is more often realized through specific indirect pathways. In the direct exposure group, stronger associations were found with CTS factors and dominant states, reflecting the burden on mental state and the depletion of resources. In the indirect exposure group, protective factors and world assumptions became more important, especially assumptions about the benevolence and justice of the world. The findings support the theoretical model of a unified protective-regulatory system of personality adaptation under CTS and demonstrate differences in adaptation profiles under direct and indirect armed conflict exposure.

    References

    1. Bleich, A. Exposure to terrorism, stress-related mental health symptoms, and coping behaviors among a nationally representative sample in Israel / A. Bleich, M. Gelkopf, Z. Solomon // Journal of the American Medical Association. – 2003. – Vol. 290. – No. 5. – P. 612–620. – DOI 10.1001/jama.290.5.612.

    2. Carver, C. S. Personality and coping / C. S. Carver, J. Connor-Smith // Annual Review of Psychology. – 2010. – Vol. 61. – P. 679–704. – DOI 10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100352.

    3. Cramer, P. Understanding Defense Mechanisms / P. Cramer // Psychodynamic Psychiatry. – 2015. – Vol. 43, № 4. – P. 523–552. – DOI 10.1521/pdps.2015.43.4.523.

    4. Diamond, G. M. Ongoing traumatic stress response (OTSR) in Sderot, Israel / G. M. Diamond, J. D. Lipsitz, Z. Fajerman, O. Rozenblat // Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. – 2010. – Vol. 41. – No. 1. – P. 19–25. – DOI 10.1037/a0017098.

    5. Goral, A. Differences in posttraumatic stress characteristics by duration of exposure to trauma / A. Goral, M. Lahad, L. Aharonson-Daniel // Psychiatry Research. – 2017. – Vol. 258. – P. 101–107. – DOI 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.09.079.

    6. Goral, A. “In the Middle, between Anxiety Victims and PTSD, There Are People That Have Some Kind of a Disorder That Has No Name Yet”. Insights about the traumatic stress consequences of exposure to ongoing threat / A. Goral, P. Feder-Bubis, M. Lahad, L. Aharonson-Daniel // Trauma Care. – 2022. – Vol. 2. – No. 2. – P. 185–196. – DOI 10.3390/traumacare2020015.

    7. The link between death anxiety and post-traumatic symptomatology during terror: direct links and possible moderators / Y. Hamama-Raz, M. Mahat-Shamir, S. Pitcho [et al.] // Psychiatry Research. – 2016. – Vol. 245. – P. 379–386. – DOI 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.08.059.

    8. Marx, B. P. Perceived uncontrollability and unpredictability, self-regulation, and sexual revictimization / B. P. Marx, J. M. Heidt, S. D. Gold // Review of General Psychology. – 2005. – Vol. 9. – No. 1. – P. 67–90. – DOI 10.1037/1089-2680.9.1.67.

    9. Nuttman-Shwartz, O. Continuous traumatic situations in the face of ongoing political violence: the relationship between CTS and PTSD / O. Nuttman-Shwartz, Y. Shoval-Zuckerman // Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. – 2016. – Vol. 17. – No. 5. – P. 562–570. – DOI 10.1177/1524838015585316.

    10. Psychiatric reactions to continuous traumatic stress: A Latent Profile Analysis of two Israeli samples / L. Itzhaky, M. Gelkopf, Y. Levin [et al.] // Journal of Anxiety Disorders. – 2017. – Vol. 51. – P. 94–100. – DOI 10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.06.006.

    11. Shoshani, A. A longitudinal study of the associations between war exposure, psychiatric symptoms, digital engagement, and substance use in adolescents / A. Shoshani, A. Kor // Journal of Adolescence. – 2026. – Vol. 98. – No. 1. – P. 272–280. – DOI 10.1002/jad.70060.

    12. Sochivko, D. V. Psikhodinamika lichnosti v ekstremal'nykh usloviyakh zhiznedeyatel'nosti : spetsial'nost' 19.00.06 «Yuridicheskaya psikhologiya» : avtoreferat dissertatsii na soiskaniye uchenoy stepeni doktora psikhologicheskikh nauk / Sochivko Dmitriy Vladislavovich ; Akademiya upravleniya MVD Rossiyskoy Federatsii. – Moskva, 2003. – 61 s. (Russian)

    13. Social media impact and smartwatch monitoring: Prevalence and early markers of PTSD and anxiety following mass traumatic events / D. Yamin, S. Lev-Ari, M. Mofaz [et al.] // PLOS Mental Health. – 2025. – Vol. 2. – No. 9. – Art. e0000195. – DOI 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000195.

  • Articles

    DYNAMICS OF LEGITIMIZED AGGRESSION AND VALUE ORIENTATIONS IN YOUNG PEOPLE

    Sergey Enikolopov, Tatiana Medvedeva, Svetlana Kuznetsova , Oksana Vorontsova, Olga Boyko
    View PDF
    Abstract

    The article presents the results of an analysis of the dynamics of legitimized aggression expressions and value orientations in young people. Materials and methods: 255 people participated in the study (143 people in 2006 and 112 people in 2024). Legitimized Aggression Questionnaire; Schwartz Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ-RR), and Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) were used. In the 2024 sample SCL-909R and the Constructive Thinking Inventory CTI were additionally administered. Results: the aggression and hostility scores according to the Buss-Perry questionnaire did not change statistically. Legitimized aggression generally shows a decreasing trend (both the total score and the subscale scores) (with the exception of "legitimized aggression in the media," which increased, and the "legitimized aggression in sports" subscale, which remained unchanged). Young people demonstrate a decrease in the value of «conformity», but an increase in the general scales (and subscales) for the values of «openness to change», «Self-Enhancement», and «Self-Transcendence». Correlations were demonstrated between the overall level of legitimized aggression and levels of «esoteric» and «categorical thinking», as well as a connection between all subscales of legitimized aggression and levels of hostility, anger, and physical aggression (Bass-Perry). Legitimized aggression was also shown to be associated with the presence of symptoms such as hostility, paranoia, and psychoticism (SCL-90R), as well as with the value of adherence to traditions. Conclusions: the changing value profile and level of legitimization of various forms of aggression among young people is linked to the influence of a more general factor, determined by changing social attitudes. One way to manifest aggression within the legitimate sphere may be through the value of "tradition," as well as categorical thinking and belief in esoteric theories.

    References

    1. Epstein S. CTI: Constructive Thinking Inventory: professional manual. Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources; 2001. vii, 59 p.

    2. Lebedeva N. Tsennostno-motivatsionnaya struktura lichnosti v russkoy kul'ture. Psikhologicheskiy zhurnal. 2001;22(3):26-36. (In Russian)

    3. Magun V., Rudnev M. Zhiznennyye tsennosti rossiyskogo naseleniya: skhodstva i otlichiya v sravnenii s drugimi yevropeyskimi stranami. Vestnik obshchestvennogo mneniya Dannyye Analiz Diskussii. 2008;(1):33-58. (In Russian)

    4. Magun V.S. The evolution of basic human values of the Russians, 2006–2021. Sociological studies. 2024;12:44-58. doi:10.31857/S013216250029336-2 (In Russian)

    5. Pankratova A. Izmeneniye tsennostey detey i vzroslykh v sovremennoy Rossii (1992–2009). Psikhologicheskiye issledovaniya. 2011;4(15). doi:https://doi.org/10.54359/ps.v4i15.875 (In Russian)

    6. Schwartz S.H., Lehmann A., Roccas S. Multimethod probes of basic human values. Social psychology and cultural context. SAGE Publications, Inc.; 1999:107-124.

    7. Schwartz S.H. Kul'turnyye tsennostnyye oriyentatsii: priroda i sledstviya natsional'nykh razlichiy. Psikhologiya Zhurnal vysshey shkoly ekonomiki. 2008;5(2):37-67. (In Russian)

    8. Yenikolopov S.N., Tsibul'skiy N.P. Izucheniye vzaimosvyazi legitimizatsii nasiliya i sklonnosti k agressivnym formam povedeniya. Psikhologicheskaya nauka i obrazovaniye. 2008;13(1):90-98. (In Russian)

  • Articles

    BEHAVIORAL TRIGGERS AS A TOOL FOR ASSESSING AND MONITORING CUMULATIVE STRESS AMONG FORCIBLY DISPLACED PERSONS

    Vitya Yaramishyan, Aram Melkonyan
    View PDF
    Abstract

    This article introduces an innovative methodological approach to assessing the mental health of forcibly displaced persons (FDPs) by observing behavioral triggers. The empirical data were derived from 13 cycles of intervention training programs ($N > 350$), including individuals displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. We sought to substantiate the necessity for real-time monitoring of cumulative stress, noting that standardized questionnaires often trigger participants' psychological defense mechanisms, leading to resistance. The findings reveal significant age and gender-based disparities: women predominantly exhibit expressive-verbal reactions, while men manifest repressive-non-verbal responses. As a practical framework for clinical and socio-psychological support, the "Behavioral Indicators Map" (BIM) is proposed.

    References

    1. Avanesyan, H. M., Sukiasyan, H., & Yaramishyan, V. B. (2025). Cumulative stress and behavioral indicators among forcibly displaced persons in Armenia. Journal of Applied Psychology Research, 12(1), 33–48.

    2. Berberyan, A. (2023). Identity structures and psychological well-being: A socio-cultural perspective. Cultural Psychology Review, 18(2), 112–129.

    3. Hovhannisyan, S., & Yaramishyan, V. (2024). Social-psychological prerequisites of the formation of ethnic identity and mentality of the indigenous Armenian population of Artsakh. Modern Psychology, 7(2(15)), 84–95.

    4. Holmes, T. H., & Rahe, R. H. (1967). The social readjustment rating scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 11(2), 213–218.

    5. Johnston, J. M., Pennypacker, H. S., & Green, G. (2020). Strategies and tactics of behavioral research and practice (4th ed.). Routledge.

    6. Liaw, S. T., et al. (2023). Behavioral indicators of trauma in displaced Syrian populations: A multi-center study. International Journal of Mental Health, 52(1), 45–67.

    7. Mental health of forcibly displaced persons from Artsakh: A cross-sectional study. (2025). Consortium PSYCHIATRICUM, 6(3), 46–61.

    8. Miller, K. E., & Rasmussen, A. (2024). Daily stressors and mental health among refugees. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 80(2), 112–128.

    9. Privitera, G. J. (2014). Research methods for the behavioral sciences. SAGE Publications.

    10. Siegel, D. J. (2020). The Developing Mind (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.

    11. Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014/2024). The Body Keeps the Score. Penguin Books.

  • Articles

    METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK FOR ASSESSING PSYCHOLOGICAL RESOURCES IN ADOLESCENT SOCIALIZATION

    Emma Sargsyan, Hrant Avanesyan
    View PDF
    Abstract

              This theoretical review examines the role of resilience, self-efficacy, hope, determination, optimism, hardiness, and conformity in the formation of adolescent social adaptation and identity. Drawing on contemporary empirical research, the article argues that these constructs function as key psychological resources, facilitating adaptive coping, enhancing social competence, and improving psychological well-being. Conformity is viewed as a dual-factor mechanism that supports integration into social groups but simultaneously creates potential risks for maladaptive behavior under the negative influence of peers. The findings highlight the importance of developing these psychological characteristics in educational and developmental programs aimed at supporting the successful integration of adolescents into society. This review proposes an integrative framework in which personal resources, motivational factors, and social-regulatory mechanisms dynamically interact to determine socialization outcomes. The analysis emphasizes the importance of substantiating the methodological aspects of assessing the role of psychological resources in adolescents. The summary allowed us to identify and present validated psychological tools for assessing the discussed adolescent personality constructs.

     

    References

    1. Asriyan, E., Karapetyan, N., & Samokhvalova, A. Comparative analysis of the level of psychological well-being among RF and RA students. Wisdom, 2022, 21(1), 39–43. https://doi.org/10.24234/wisdom.v21i1.686

    2. Blakemore, S.-J., & Mills, K. L. Is adolescence a sensitive period for sociocultural processing? Annual Review of Psychology, 2014, 65, 187–207. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115202

    3. Ciarrochi, J., Heaven, P. C. L., & Davies, F. The impact of hope, self-esteem, and attributional style on adolescents’ school grades and emotional well-being: A longitudinal study. Journal of Research in Personality, 2007, 41(6), 1161–1178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2007.02.001

    4. Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2007, 92(6), 1087–1107. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087

    5. Francisco, R., Branquinho, C., Noronha, C., Moraes, B., Rodrigues, N. N., & Gaspar de Matos, M. Life satisfaction and risk of depression: The role of adolescents’ social-emotional skills. Revista de Psicología Clínica con Niños y Adolescentes, 2025, 12(2), 80–89. https://doi.org/10.21134/rpcna.2025.12.2.1

    6. Galstyan, A., et al. Psychological Assessment Toolkit: Educational Manual. Yerevan State University Publishing House, 2024, 236 p.

    7. Rambod, M., Hamidizadeh, S., Bazrafshan, M. R., & Parviniannasab, A. M. Risk and protective factors for resilience among adolescents and young adults. BMC Psychology, 2023. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40359-023-01268-2?utm_source

    8. Richards, K. A. R., & Gordon, B. Socialisation and learning to teach using the teaching personal and social responsibility approach. Asia-Pacific Journal of Health, Sport and Physical Education, 2017, 8(1), 19–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/18377122.2016.1272424

    9. Sabouripour, F., Roslan, S., Ghiami, Z., & Memon, M. A. Mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between optimism, psychological well-being, and resilience among Iranian students. Frontiers in Psychology, 2021, 12, 675645. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.675645

    10. Sagone, E., & De Caroli, M. E. Resilience and perceived self-efficacy in life skills from early to late adolescence. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 2020, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2020.1771599

    11. Schwarzer, R. Self-Efficacy: Thought Control of Action. Taylor & Francis, 1992. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315800820

    12. Soto, C. J., Napolitano, C. M., Sewell, M. N., Yoon, H. J., & Roberts, B. W. An integrative framework for conceptualizing and assessing social, emotional, and behavioral skills: The BESSI. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2022, 123(1), 192–222. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000401

    13. Steinberg, L., & Monahan, K. C. Age differences in resistance to peer influence. Developmental Psychology, 2007, 43(6), 1531–1543. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.43.6.1531

    14. Usán Supervía, P., Salavera Bordás, C., Juarros Basterretxea, J., & Latorre Cosculluela, C. Influence of psychological variables in adolescence: The mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between self-efficacy and satisfaction with life in senior high school students. Social Sciences, 2023, 12(6), 329. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12060329

    15. Voskanyan, K. V., Papoyan, S. A., et al. Adaptation and validation of the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ) in Armenian language (a pilot study). Modern Psychology Scientific Bulletin, YSU, 2021, 2(9), 365–370.

  • Articles

    ON METAMORPHOSIS: EXPERIENCING AND EMBODIMENT. SOME REMARKS ON PROCESS-ORIENTATION IN COUNSELLING, COACHING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY

    Haik Petrossian
    View PDF
    Abstract

    This paper explores the interplay of interaction, change, and stability in personal and organizational contexts, emphasizing the importance of relationship and embodiment in facilitating change from the vantage point of humanistic psychology. Individual transformation labelled as metamorphosis is transposing the state of being as second-order change in comparison to alter states as first-order change. A focus on epistemology in psychology is needed how we come to knowledge regarding human behaviour, mental and experiential processes. Thus it embrace the foundations of psychology as a science, paying attention to what constitutes valid evidence beyond common sense rationalism in order  to investigate a new understanding of human behaviour. Here the contribution of Gregory Bateson (1904-1980) is delivering an access path towards the unfamiliar realms for someone trying to understand the complexity of human behaviour. The groundbreaking work of Paul Watzlawick et al (2011) in their book ‘Pragmatics of human Behaviour’ can be viewed a substantial ‘game changer’ related to a creative thinking in theoretic and applied psychology. A long-standing collaboration between Carl Rogers and Eugene Gendlin at the University of Chicago paved the way for the foundation of the Person-centred and experiential-oriented approach in the the field of counselling, coaching and psychotherapy. The core issues and observations here are focusing on two crucial processes in relating to an alter ego: ‘I-you' (Rogers 1959) and ’I-me’ (1962) regarding personal development and therapeutic change. This is widely known as ‘First-person approach’, which encompass a systemic-oriented and experiential-oriented personal inquiry into one’s own consciously accessible experience in private and professional life. A further crucial point in that undertaking might be as well a thoughtful study of Eugene Gendlin’s ‘Process Model’ (1997) and ’Philosophy of the Implicit’ (2017).

    References

    1. Bateson, Gregory (1972). Steps to an Ecology of Mind. Collected Essays in Anthropology, Psychiatry, Evolution, and Epistemology. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press, 2000. Ballantine. New York.

    2. Bateson, Gregory (1980). Mind and Nature. A necessary Unity. Bantam. Toronto. Re-printed by Hampton Press 2002

    3. Broecker, Monika Silvia, and Ivanovas, Georg, eds. The Beginning of a New Epistemology: in memoriam, Gregory Bateson (1904-1980). Kybernetes 36, no. 7/8 (2007).

    4. Fromm, Erich. (1947). Man for Himself: An Inquiry into the Psychology of Ethics (1st ed.). Rinehart. Re-print: Open Road Media 2013

    5. Gendlin, Eugene T. (1962). Experiencing and the creation of meaning: A philosophical and psychological approach to the subjective. New York: Free Press of Glencoe. Reprinted by Macmillan, 1970 and Northwestern University Press 1997.

    6. Gendlin, Eugene T. (2007). Focusing. (Reissue, with new introduction). New York: Bantam Books.

    7. Gendlin, Eugene. (2017). A Process Model. Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University Press.

    8. Greenberg, Leslie S., McWilliams, Nancy and Wenzel, Amy (2014). Exploring three Approaches to Psychotherapy. American Psychological Association. Washington, DC

    9. Heuman, Linda (2011, Fall). Focusing: An interview with Eugene Gendlin. Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. https://tricycle.org/article/focusing-interview-eugene-gendlin/

    10. Maslow, Abraham. H. (1970). Toward a psychology of being (2nd edition). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

    11. Rogers, Carl. (1959). A theory of therapy, personality and interpersonal relationships as developed in the client-centred framework. In (ed.) Siegmund Koch, Psychology: A study of a science. Vol. 3: Formulations of the person and the social context. New York: McGraw Hill.

    12. Rogers, Carl R. & Russell, David E. (2002). Carl Rogers - The quiet revolutionary: An oral history. Roseville, CA: Penmarin Books.

    13. Trungpa, Chogyam (2005). The Sanity we are born with. A Buddhist Approach to Psychology. Shambhala Publications. Boston and London.

    14. Von Foerster, Heinz, & Poerksen, Bernhard (2003). Understanding Systems: Conversations on Epistemology and Ethics. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

    15. Watzlawick, Paul, Beavin Janet H. and Jackson, Don D. (2011). Pragmatics of Human Communication. New York, NY: WW Norton.

  • Articles

    PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS DETERMINING PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT OF THE INDIVIDUAL

    Anahit Verdyan
    View PDF
    Abstract

    This article is devoted to the theoretical analysis of the psychological factors determining an individual’s professional burnout. Within the framework of the article, the main theoretical approaches to professional burnout are examined, emphasizing its multidimensional nature, stage-based development, and specific manifestations. The method of comparative analysis was applied, through which the key provisions of the approaches to professional burnout were identified, as well as the similarities and differences in the authors’ views regarding the structure of burnout and the factors determining it. The analysis demonstrated that the recurrence of psychological factors of professional burnout is high across different theoretical approaches, which indicates their fundamental role in the formation of burnout syndrome. The psychological factors of professional burnout identified include motivation, coping strategies, self-efficacy, emotional regulation, and stress resistance. One of the most frequently occurring factors is motivation. The results make it possible to systematize the existing theoretical approaches and to develop an integrated model of professional burnout as a multifactorial and multilevel phenomenon. The proposed model may serve as a theoretical basis for the development of professional burnout prevention programs.

    References

    1. Boyko V. V. «Energiya emotsiy v obshchenii: vzglyad na sebya i na drugikh». – SPb., 1996. (Russian)

    2. Cherniss C. Burnout: Two Ways of Defining It and Their Implications. – Washington : Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse, 1982.

    3. Freudenberger H. J. Staff Burn-Out // Journal of Social Issues. – 1974. – Vol. 90, № 1. – New York.

    4. Galaiya R., Kinross J., Arulampalam T. Factors Associated with Burnout Syndrome in Surgeons: A Systematic Review // Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. – 2020. – Vol. 102. – P. 401–407. 10.1308/rcsann.2020.0040

    5. Higashiguchi K., Morikawa Y., Miura K., Nishijo M., Tabata M., Yoshita K., Sagara T., Nakagawa H. The Development of the Japanese Version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Examination of the Factor Structure.

    6. Kasheva N., Makasheva J., Gromova A., Ishtunov S., Burykhin B. The Problem of Professional Burnout in Stress Management // SHS Web of Conferences. – 2016. – Vol. 28. – P. 01132. 10.1051/shsconf/20162801132

    7. Lazarus R. S., Folkman S. Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. – New York, 1984.

    8. Lok’yan A. «Huzakan ayrman makardaki akhtoroshman met’vodikayi teghaynats’man ynt’ats’akarg». – HH petakan karravarman akademia, 2015. (Armenian)

    9. Maslach C. Burned Out // Human Behavior. – 1976.

    10. Maslach C., Leiter M. P. The Truth About Burnout: How Organizations Cause Personal Stress and What to Do About It. – San Francisco, 2005.

    11. Pines A. Burnout: From Tedium to Personal Growth. – 1981.

    12. Vodopʹânova N. E. «Sindrom vygoraniâ: diagnostika i profilaktika». – SPb.: Piter. (Russian)

  • Articles

    THE PSYCHO-EMOTIVE EFFECTS OF AI-GENERATED FAKE NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA USERS

    Gevorg Grigoryan, Salah Eddine Salmi, Ning Huichun, Jingjing Shi
    View PDF
    Abstract

    The mass spread of AI-generated fake news on social media platforms has become a challenging issue for users' mental health, societal trust, and behavioral patterns. While social media serves as powerful platform for mass communication, it also accelerates widespread dissemination of misinformation, especially with the help of AI-powered technologies, which are capable of generating and circulating fake news on an unprecedented scale on a daily basis.

    This study makes an attempt to examine the psycho-emotive effects of AI-generated fake news on social media users, focusing on the emotional responses, cognitive processes, and behavioral changes triggered by exposure to such content. A mixed-methods approach has been employed to collect data from social media users. The findings illustrate that AI-generated fake news can evoke feelings of anxiety, mistrust, and confusion, leading to decreased self-esteem, social withdrawal, and diminished trust in social institutions. Moreover, the findings clearly indicate that individuals with lower critical thinking skills  are more susceptible to the negative psycho-emotive effects of AI-generated fake news. The study's outcomes highlight the need for developing strategies for suspending the spread of AI-generated fake news and promoting media literacy, critical thinking, and emotional resilience among social media users with different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

    References

    1. Aïmeur, E., Amri, S., & Brassard, G. (2023b). Fake news, disinformation and misinformation in social media: a review. Social Network Analysis and Mining, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13278-023-01028-5

    2. Azzimonti, M., & Fernandes, M. (2022). Social media networks, fake news, and polarization. European Journal of Political Economy, 76, 102256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2022.102256

    3. Bontridder, N., & Poullet, Y. (2021). The role of artificial intelligence in disinformation. Data & Policy, 3. https://doi.org/10.1017/dap.2021.20

    4. Bolderston, A. (2012). Conducting a research interview. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 43(1), 66–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2011.12.002

    5. Bailey, P. K., Hole, B. D., Plumb, L. A., & Caskey, F. J. (2022). Mixed-methods research in nephrology. Kidney International, 101(5), 895–905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2022.01.027

    6. Baptista, J. P., & Gradim, A. (2020). Understanding Fake news Consumption: A review. Social Sciences, 9(10), 185. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci9100185

    7. Chen, S., Xiao, L., & Kumar, A. (2022b). Spread of misinformation on social media: What contributes to it and how to combat it. Computers in Human Behavior, 141, 107643. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107643

    8. Gao, J., Zheng, P., Jia, Y., Chen, H., Mao, Y., Chen, S., Wang, Y., Fu, H., & Dai, J. (2020). Mental health problems and social media exposure during COVID-19 outbreak. PLoS ONE, 15(4), e0231924. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231924

    9. Fake news and Polarization: the Storytelling opportunity. (n.d.). https://www.freiheit.org/mexico/fake-news-and-polarization-storytelling-opportunity.

    10. Hate speech and fake news: the impact on working conditions of local and regional elected representatives. (n.d.). In https://rm.coe.int/0900001680a8340b.

    11. Liu, Z., Zhang, T., Yang, K., Thompson, P., Yu, Z., & Ananiadou, S. (2024). Emotion detection for misinformation: A review. Information Fusion, 107, 102300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inffus.2024.102300

    12. Martel, C., Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2020). Reliance on emotion promotes belief in fake news. Cognitive Research Principles and Implications, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-020-00252-3

    13. Martel, C., Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2020b). Reliance on emotion promotes belief in fake news. Cognitive Research Principles and Implications, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-020-00252-3

    14. Moktefi, A., & Lemanski, J. (2022). On the Origin of Venn Diagrams. Axiomathes, 32(S3), 887–900. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10516-022-09642-2

    15. Naeem, M., Ozuem, W., Howell, K., & Ranfagni, S. (2023). A Step-by-Step process of thematic analysis to develop a conceptual model in qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 22. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069231205789

    16. Rampersad, G., & Althiyabi, T. (2019). Fake news: Acceptance by demographics and culture on social media. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 17(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2019.1686676

    17. Raman, R., Nair, V. K., Nedungadi, P., Sahu, A. K., Kowalski, R., Ramanathan, S., & Achuthan, K. (2024). Fake news research trends, linkages to generative artificial intelligence and sustainable development goals. Heliyon, 10(3), e24727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24727

    18. Schrauf, R. W. (2017). Mixed methods designs for making Cross-Cultural comparisons. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 12(4), 477–494. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689817743109

    19. Schrauf, R. W. (2017). Mixed methods designs for making Cross-Cultural comparisons. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 12(4), 477–494. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689817743109

    20. Shahbazi, M., & Bunker, D. (2024). Social media trust: Fighting misinformation in the time of crisis. International Journal of Information Management, 77, 102780. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2024.102780

    21. Vertoudakis, V. P. (2024). Fake News and Misinformation During War or Civil Conflict: Some Case Studies from Greek Historiography. In De Gruyter eBooks (pp. 213–220). https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111393629-012

    22. Zhang, Z., & Cheng, Z. (2024). Users’ unverified information-sharing behavior on social media: The role of reasoned and social reactive pathways. Acta Psychologica, 245, 104215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104215

    23. Zaeem, C. Li and K. S. Barber, "On Sentiment of Online Fake News," 2020 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining (ASONAM), The Hague, Netherlands, 2020, pp. 760-767, doi: 10.1109/ASONAM49781.2020.9381323

    24. 2/3 of digital content creators do not fact-check, UNESCO. (n.d.). news.un.org

    25. LEARNING FROM SHARED NEWS: WHEN ABUNDANT INFORMATION LEADS TO BELIEF POLARIZATION. (n.d.). In https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w28465/revisions/w28465.rev0.pdf.

    26. GENAI AND THE BATTLE AGAINST MISINFORMATION, Duke Education Corporation

    27. https://www.dukece.com/insights/genai_and_the_battle_against_misinformation/

  • Articles

    THE INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING AND POLITICAL TRUST

    Hasmik Sargsyan
    View PDF
    Abstract

    This article examines the relationship between individual subjective well-being and political trust in the pre-electoral period of the 2026 parliamentary elections in the Republic of Armenia. The study is grounded in social-psychological and political science approaches, particularly within the framework of social capital theory, where trust is considered an important factor of social cohesion and institutional stability. The main objective of the research is to identify the relationship between subjective well-being and political trust, as well as to determine whether subjective well-being can serve as a determining factor of political trust.

    The research objectives include the examination of subjective well-being across different socio-demographic groups and the analysis of its relationship with political trust. A quantitative research methodology was applied. The sample consisted of 214 respondents. Data were collected using the “Subjective Well-Being Assessment Methodology” and a localized version of Rotter’s Interpersonal Trust Scale for measuring political trust. Data analysis was conducted using Student’s t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and regression statistical methods.

    The results show that subjective well-being demonstrates statistically significant differences across gender, educational level, with higher levels observed among individuals with higher education. Correlation analysis revealed a positive and significant relationship between subjective well-being and political trust (r = 0.395, p < 0.01). The regression model confirmed that subjective well-being significantly determines political trust (R² = 0.186), particularly through its affective and cognitive components.

    Based on the findings, it can be concluded that political trust is influenced not only by socio-political factors but also by psychological factors, particularly subjective well-being. The relevance of the study lies in the empirical identification of the relationship between subjective well-being and political trust within the context of parliamentary elections in Armenia.

     

    References

    1. Charlotte Fiedler (2023). What Do We Know about How Armed Conflict Affects Social Cohesion? A Review of the Empirical Literature. International Studies Review, 25(3), viad030. https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viad030

    2. Jyung, M., Lee, S.-H., & Choi, I. (2024). Unraveling the most important predictors of eudaimonic and hedonic well-being in Korean adults: A machine learning approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, 25(85). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-024-00792-1

    3. Leonova I. YU., Leonov I. N. (2016). Psikhometricheskaya proverka struktury metodiki «Shkala mezhlichnostnogo doveriya» Dzh. Rottera v adaptatsii S. G. Dostovalova i yeye modifikatsiya. Vestnik Udmurtskogo universiteta. Seriya «Filosofiya. Psikhologiya. Pedagogika, 26(2), 93–101.

    4. Meisenberg, G., & Woodley, M. A. (2015). Gender differences in subjective well-being and their relationships with gender equality. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16(6), 1539–1555. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-014-9577-5

    5. Muzashvili D. Z. (2022). Doveriye kak politiko-psikhologicheskiy fenomen. Gumanitarnyye nauki. Vestnik Finansovogo universiteta, 12(1), 75–79. https://doi.org/10.26794/2226-7867-2022-12-1-75-79

    6. Zheng, J., & Zhang, T. (2025). Patterns of trust and subjective well-being across societies: the role of long-term versus short-term orientation. BMC Psychology, 13, 697. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03048-6

    7. Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Education” (Article 3, paragraphs 19–22). https://www.arlis.am/hy/acts/68299/

  • Articles

    THE SILENT STRUGGLE: THE IMPACT OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) ON THE SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF LEBANESE REFUGEES IN DANISH SOCIETY

    Kourosh Gharagozlou
    View PDF
    Abstract

    This study examines how Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is associated with social integration experiences among Lebanese refugees living in Denmark. The research adopts a qualitative exploratory design based on semi-structured interviews with 50 participants, including a small subgroup of Armenian-Lebanese individuals. The analysis is guided by Ager and Strang’s (2008) framework, which conceptualises social integration as a multidimensional process encompassing structural, social, linguistic, and cultural dimensions.

    The findings indicate that PTSD-related cognitive and emotional difficulties may be associated with variations in participants’ engagement in language learning, employment, and social participation. These experiences are situated within broader structural conditions, including labour market access, institutional frameworks, immigration policies, and perceived discrimination, which together appear to shape integration trajectories.

    The results further suggest that social integration is shaped through the interaction of psychological, social, and structural factors rather than through any single determinant. Family relationships and wider social networks are identified as important sources of support and resilience; however, their availability and impact vary across individuals and contexts.

    The study is exploratory in nature and does not establish causal relationships. Instead, it provides context-sensitive insights into how trauma-related experiences and structural conditions may interact in shaping the lived experiences of integration among refugees. The findings contribute to trauma-informed and structurally aware approaches to refugee integration and support policy development aimed at improving social inclusion.

    References

    1. Acheson, D. T., Gresack, J. E., & Risbrough, V. B. (2012). Hippocampal dysfunction effects on context memory: Possible etiology for posttraumatic stress disorder. Neuropharmacology, 62(2), 674–685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.04.029

    2. Ager, A., & Strang, A. (2008). Understanding integration: A conceptual framework. Journal of Refugee Studies, 21(2), 166–191. https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fen016

    3. Bakker, L., Dagevos, J., & Engbersen, G. (2014). The importance of resources and security in the socio-economic integration of refugees: A study on the impact of length of stay in asylum accommodation and residence status on socio-economic integration for the four largest refugee groups in the Netherlands. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 15(3), 431–448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-013-0296-2

    4. Berry, J. W. (1997). Immigration, acculturation, and adaptation. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 46(1), 5–68.

    5. Bhugra, D. (2004). Migration and mental health. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 109(4), 243–258. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2004.00312.x

    6. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

    7. Bryant, R. A., Nickerson, A., Morina, N., & Liddell, B. (2023). Posttraumatic stress disorder in refugees. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 19, 413–436.

    8. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-080921-080359

    9. Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (2nd ed.). Sage.

    10. Daroff, R. B., & Aminoff, M. J. (Eds.). (2014). Encyclopedia of the neurological sciences (2nd ed.). Academic Press.

    11. Delhey, J. (2004). European social integration: From convergence of countries to transnational relations between peoples (WZB Discussion Paper No. SP I 2004 201). Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung.

    12. Esser, H. (2006). Migration, Language and Integration: The social conditions and consequences of migrants’ language acquisition (AKI Research Review 4). Berlin: Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB), Intercultural Conflicts and Societal Integration Unit (AKI).

    13. Fazel, M., Wheeler, J., & Danesh, J. (2005). Prevalence of serious mental disorder in 7000 refugees resettled in western countries: a systematic review. Lancet (London, England), 365(9467), 1309–1314. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(05)61027-6

    14. Fink, G. (2014). Posttraumatic stress disorder: Introduction to special issue. Journal of Trauma Treatment, 4, 1–6.

    15. Hynie, M. (2018). The social determinants of refugee mental health in the post-migration context: A critical review. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry / La Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie, 63(5), 297–303. https://doi.org/10.1177/0706743717746666

    16. Kar, N. (2011). Cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of post traumatic stress disorder: A review. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 7(1), 167–181. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S10389

    17. Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2009). InterViews: Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.

    18. Li, C. Q., Zhang, Y., Wang, W., Zhou, T., Yu, X., & Tao, H. (2022). Altered hippocampal volume and functional connectivity in patients with Cushing’s disease. Brain and Behavior, 12(6), e2507. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2507

    19. Lindert, J., von Ehrenstein, O. S., Priebe, S., Mielck, A., & Brähler, E. (2009). Depression and anxiety in labor migrants and refugees: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 69(2), 246–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.04.032

    20. López Ibor, J. J., Christodoulou, G., Maj, M., Sartorius, N., & Okasha, A. (Eds.). (2005). Disasters and mental health. John Wiley & Sons.

    21. Lund, M., Sørensen, J. H., Christensen, J. B., Ølholm, A. (2008). MTV Om Behandling Og Rehabilitering Af PTSD – herunder Traumatiserede Flygtninge. Region Syddanmark.

    22. Morse, J. M. (2018). Reframing rigor in qualitative inquiry. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (5th ed., pp. 796–817). SAGE.

    23. Portes, A. (1998). Social capital: Its origins and applications in modern sociology. Annual Review of Sociology, 24, 1–24.

    24. Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster.

    25. Schick, M., Zumwald, A., Knöpfli, B., Nickerson, A., Bryant, R. A., Schnyder, U., Müller, J., & Morina, N. (2016). Challenging future, challenging past: The relationship of social integration and psychological impairment in traumatized refugees. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 7(1), Article 28057. https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v7.28057

    26. Schouler-Ocak, M. (Ed.). (2015). Trauma and migration: Cultural factors in the diagnosis and treatment of traumatised immigrants. Springer International Publishing.

    27. Schweitzer, R. D., Melville, F., Steel, Z., & Lacherez, P. (2006). Trauma, post-migration living difficulties, and social support as predictors of psychological adjustment in resettled Sudanese refugees. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 40(2), 179–187. https://doi.org/10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01766.x

    28. Silverman, D. (2006). Interpreting qualitative data (3rd ed.). Sage.

    29. Svendsen, G. (2001). Traumatiserede flygtninge og socialt arbejde: En inspirationsbog til sagsbehandlere i det kommunale integrationsarbejde. Dansk Flygtningehjælp.

    30. Tossutti, L. S. (2009). Canadian cities and global migration: Comparing local responses to demographic change. APSA 2009 Toronto Meeting Paper.

    31. Wingenfeld, K., & Wolf, O. T. (2014). Stress, memory, and the hippocampus. Frontiers of Neurology and Neuroscience, 34, 109–120. https://doi.org/10.1159/000356423