|
V. Y. Vdovenko1, V. O. Sushko1, O. V. Anoprienko2, I. E. Kolpakov1
1State Institution «National Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Hematology and Oncology of the
National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine», 53 Yuriia Illienka St., Kyiv, 04050, Ukraine
2Center for medical and psychological, social and rehabilitation care National Children's Specialized
Hospital «Okhmatdyt» of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, 28/1 Viacheslava Chornovola St., Kyiv,
01135, Ukraine
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS IN CHILDREN AFFECTED BY WAR: STRATIFICATION BY THE PSM-25 SCALE AND A PILOT STUDY OF ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE VAL16ALA POLYMORPHISM OF THE SOD2 GENE
Objective. To assess the level of psychological stress in children affected by war and living in regions with radioecological burden, as well as to determine possible associations with the SOD2 polymorphism (Val16Ala, rs4880),
using quartile stratification as an approach to the interpretation of the PSM-25 scale.
Materials and methods. The study involved 42 children aged 10 to 17 years living in regions with different levels
of radiation exposure and affected by military events. The psychoemotional state was assessed using the PSM-25
psychological stress scale. A quartile approach was used to stratify the level of stress: Q1 (low), Q1–Q3 (intermediate) and Q3 (high). DNA samples were examined to detect the rs4880 polymorphism of the SOD2 gene. Statistical
analysis was performed using non-parametric criteria and logistic regression models.
Results. The level of psychological stress in the sample ranged from 29 to 182 points, indicating heterogeneity of
individual reactions. About 26 % of children demonstrated values exceeding the conditional clinical thresholds on
the PSM-25 scale. The quartile stratification allowed us to identify three subgroups with different stress severity.
Analysis of socio-demographic characteristics revealed a statistically significant association between gender and
stress levels: girls had higher scores than boys (p = 0.041), which was also confirmed in the binary logistic model.
Although children from areas with elevated radiation backgrounds did not score significantly higher on non-parametric tests, the regression model revealed a trend towards an increased risk of high stress in this group (p = 0.063).
Genetic analysis showed a potential protective role of the Ala allele of the SOD2 polymorphism (rs4880). Although
the χ2-test did not reveal significant differences in the distribution of genotypes between quartile groups, both
binary and ordinal logistic regression showed a consistent trend: carriers of Val/Ala and Ala/Ala genotypes had a
lower probability of high stress levels compared to the Val/Val reference group.
Conclusion. There is a significant variation in the level of psychoemotional stress in children exposed to war, which
indicates the heterogeneity of individual reactions. The quartile stratification of the PSM-25 scale provided an
effective adaptation to the lack of standards for the pediatric population and allowed to identify clinically significant subgroups by stress level. Male gender was associated with a lower level of stress, and living in areas with
chronic radiation background was associated with a tendency to increased risk, indicating the influence of socioenvironmental factors. The association analysis indicated a possible protective role of the Ala allele of the SOD2
gene (rs4880), which is manifested in a reduction in the risk of high stress in children. This hypothesis requires further confirmation in larger samples.
Key words: children; psychoemotional stress; war; PSM-25; radiation exposure; SOD2; rs4880 polymorphism.
Problems of Radiation Medicine and Radiobiology.
2025;30:352-371. doi: 10.33145/2304-8336-2025-30-352-371
 full text
|
