Experiencing social tension in Ukrainian society: a diagnostic instrument

Abstract

Introduction. Social tension is a condition that develops in a society as a result of an uncertain situation that changes the usual and comfortable life of people and has a real or imagined restrictive or threatening character. Experiencing social tension is an important factor in the social activity of individuals and social forces that are aimed at improving the current situation and harmonizing relations in society. The aim of the study was to develop a psychodiagnostic instrument for measuring the level of experiencing social tension in Ukrainian society. Methods. The Social Tension in Society (T. Mykhno, O. Savchenko) was proposed and the necessary measures were taken to check its validity, reliability and statements discrimination. To check convergent validity, standardized questionnaires "Personal Resources" (O. Savchenko, S. Sukach) and "Stability of Mental Health - Short Form (MHC-SF-UA)" (E. Nosenko, A. Chetveryk-Burchak) were used. Results. Psychological markers of social tension in society were determined. The validity of the scales for measuring experiences, high reliability-consistency and statements discrimination of the instrument were confirmed. The instrument scales standardization was conducted on a sample of young people (N=129) and its test norms were formed according to the stanine scale. Conclusions. The Social Tension in Society is a pilot project and the validation of its scales is well underway. It is planned to conduct a reliability-stability check according to the test-retest scheme and to form test norms for different age groups.