Keywords
psychological adaptation
resilience
historical memory
identity
dignity
moral resilience
theology
meaning-making
integrative approach
How to Cite
Abstract
Background. The ongoing full-scale war in Ukraine has intensified the need to reconsider psychological support for military personnel beyond a purely clinical and symptom-oriented understanding of trauma. Wartime experience involves not only psychological consequences, but also existential, moral, historical and spiritual dimensions that shape identity, dignity and resilience.
Objective. The aim of the article is to theoretically substantiate an integrative model of psychological support for military personnel that combines historical, psychological and theological dimensions of understanding wartime experience and promotes adaptation, moral resilience and personal integrity.
Methods. The study is based on an interdisciplinary theoretical design. It employs analysis and synthesis of scientific literature in psychology, military psychology, historical memory studies and theology, as well as comparative analysis, theoretical generalisation and conceptual modelling.
Results. The article demonstrates that historical memory contributes to the formation of personal and collective identity, strengthens the sense of continuity between generations and provides a meaningful framework for integrating traumatic experience. The psychological dimension supports adaptation, stabilisation and self-regulation, while the theological dimension enables reflection on suffering, freedom, responsibility, sacrifice and human dignity. An integrative model is proposed, consisting of three interrelated components: adaptation and stabilisation, identification and narrative integration, and existential-spiritual reflection.
Conclusions. Effective support for military personnel requires moving beyond a narrowly clinical approach to trauma. The integration of historical, psychological and theological resources creates additional conditions for strengthening psychological and moral resilience, preserving personal integrity and supporting successful adaptation to the consequences of wartime experience. The proposed model may be applied in psychological support, adaptation and rehabilitation programmes for military personnel and veterans.
Keywords: military personnel; psychological adaptation; resilience; historical memory; identity; dignity; moral resilience; theology; meaning-making; integrative approach.
Article received: February 13, 2026
Accepted for publication: March 21, 2026
Published online: March 30, 2026
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Copyright (c) 2026 Halyna Rud, Oksana Hrytsiuta, Lina I. Borodynska, Volodymyr M. Demydiuk, Ivan Bochkor