The Bulletin of National Defence University of Ukraine

In the context of the current war in Ukraine, it is important to study the psychosocial factors that influence the recovery of military personnel after traumatic events. War involves not only physical losses, but also deep psychological trauma that disrupts a person's basic notions of security, trust, and social connections. One of the most important factors in stabilizing the psycho-emotional state of military personnel after a traumatic event is quality social interaction. Social ties with comrades, family, and community not only provide a basic sense of belonging, but also act as an effective protective mechanism against isolation, post-traumatic disorders, and maladjustment. The need for emotional support and a safe social environment intensifies immediately after a critical event, in particular through physiological mechanisms (activation of affiliative behavior, release of oxytocin, reduction of cortisol). At the same time, individual differences among military personnel in their perception of support and the risks of inadequate or forced socialization in acute phases of stress should be taken into account. That is why the early restoration of interpersonal contact and the organization of interaction in a military environment should be key elements of psychological assistance. The purpose of the article is to study the peculiarities of providing psychological assistance to servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine after a traumatic event, focusing on the importance of social interaction as a key element of this assistance

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