THE IMPACT OF VOLUNTEERING AIMED AT HELPING THE COMBATANTS AND VICTIMS OF THE WAR, ON VOLUNTEERS’ FAMILY WELL-BEING

Abstract

In the article, we have analyzed the information that concerns the potential impact of volunteer activity on the psycho-emotional state and the family well-being of volunteers, in particular those who carry out their activities in extreme conditions. We have analyzed the peculiarities of the activities of Ukrainian volunteers who assisted the combatants and victims of the war during the most fierce military confrontation in the East of Ukraine in 2014– 2016 and found that their activities could have a negative impact on the socio-psychological climate and the functioning of their families due to prolonged, tensional, emotionally intense and sometimes risky nature of activities. We have researched the peculiarities of matrimonial relationship and some indicators of family well-being (level of satisfaction with marriage and marriage partner, peculiarities of communication, readiness for interaction, level of mutual respect and emotional attraction) in the families of active participants of the volunteer movement, who directed their efforts to assist the military and civilian during a period of active military confrontation. We have analyzed the correlation between the family well-being of volunteers and the peculiarities of their activities. Particular attention was paid to the analysis of the specifics of activities and relationships with marital partners for volunteers whose families eventually have broken up (every fifth of studied participants have experienced a divorce during active engagement in volunteering). The indicators of the psycho-emotional status of volunteers (fixation and somatization of anxiety, depression) were also analyzed. We have identified a number of factors that can negatively affect the family well-being and the psycho-emotional state of volunteers who operate in conditions of military confrontation, in particular the intensity and duration of volunteering activity, significant personal responsibility, high emotional involvement, lack of support from family members.