A psycholinguistic analysis of the narratives of young adults with moral injury and post-traumatic stress disorder

Tetiana  Fedotova; Oksana Kykhtiuk; Viktoriia Maistruk; Olena Vlasenko

doi:10.29038/fed

Authors

Tetiana Fedotova * Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1975-9925
Oksana Kykhtiuk Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8569-1896
Viktoriia Maistruk Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6674-4917
Olena Vlasenko V. I. Vernadsky Taurida National University, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1011-1965

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29038/fed

Keywords:

narrative analysis, moral injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, war experience, young adults

Abstract

Traumatic social upheavals such as war actualise the need to investigate the interrelation between moral injury (MI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly in young adulthood, a developmental period marked by heightened moral sensitivity and vulnerability. Although MI and PTSD are conceptually distinct, moral injury may contribute to the emergence or intensification of PTSD symptoms. This study examines the manifestation of MI and PTSD symptoms in young adults and analyses their narratives of war experience. The sample comprised 300 Ukrainian young adults aged 18–26, screened using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Moral Injury Symptom Scale (MISS-M-SF). Based on screening results, three groups were identified: individuals with PTSD, individuals with pronounced MI without PTSD, and a non-diagnosed comparison group. Participants produced written narratives on the topic “My experience of living through war,” which were analysed using a narrative-psycholinguistic approach focusing on orientation, emotional valence, and narrative organization. The results demonstrate statistically significant differences in MI symptom profiles between respondents with and without PTSD, as well as meaningful correlations between PTSD symptom clusters and specific MI components, including moral conflict, shame, self-condemnation, and loss of meaning. Narrative analysis revealed predominantly negative orientations toward traumatic experience across groups, alongside differences in behavioural strategies, emotional focus, and the balance between individual and collective experience. Narratives of participants with PTSD showed extensive detailing of traumatic events and active coping strategies, whereas narratives of participants with MI without PTSD were characterised by ambivalence and social withdrawal. The findings underscore the close relationship between MI and PTSD in young adults experiencing war and highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic value of narrative analysis in understanding trauma-related experiences.

Disclosure Statement

The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest.

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Author Biography

Tetiana Fedotova *, Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Ukraine

Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

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Appendix

Narrative 1

M: Constant fear, uncertainty about the future, powerlessness, and danger became insurmountable for some people and led to deep psychological and physical trauma. Because I am from a small village, those were the worst first days. People were buying up everything in the shops, there was great panic, the news was on 24/7, and watching it only increased the fear, misunderstanding, tension and anxiety, especially in the evening, when it was scary to even turn on the lights. Looking out onto the street, you would have thought the village had died out in just two days’. But thanks to the determination of our army and the support of the international community, we were able to stand up and fight, even if not side by side, then morally, supporting each other and helping materially. Life during a full-scale invasion is a struggle, a daily struggle that reminds us of our unbreakable strength and resilience. My personal experience has been one of uncertainty, fear and despair. On the one hand, there is a sense that we are part of something bigger, a struggle for freedom and democracy, and the realisation that our actions and sacrifices are important not only for our lives, but also for the future of our Ukraine. On the other hand, there is a constant fear of the unknown, the uncertainty of each day and the pain of watching the destruction of our country and the suffering of our people, a feeling of betrayal and despair, why is this happening to us? The mental strain is heavy, and the emotional rollercoaster is exhausting. And yet, despite the difficulties, we continue to fight because we have to, because we have no other choice. This is a reminder that no matter how dark the night, no matter how bleak the prospects, there will always be hope that we will continue to fight, and that is why we continue to fight, because Ukraine is worth fighting for and deserves victory.

Narrative 2

T: My memories of the first three days of the invasion are clear. Everything before and after is blurred. On the first day, I barely noticed what was happening and did not worry. The first three months after 24 February felt the same. I was focused, calm, and followed the news. My relationship with my parents grew worse because we saw the situation in the country differently. I spent my days weaving nets. I got up, had breakfast, went to weave nets, ate lunch there, came back, sat in my room with the lights off (because of blackouts), and went to bed. I never felt lonely. Two close people left for abroad, my parents had their own business, and my brother and sister stayed with relatives. I did not want to talk to most people. I became more sensitive to justice, disliked much of the world, and felt deceived about peace. I hardly listened to music... Before the start of the academic semester, I had never been to a party with my peers. I started paying less attention to events in the country and less aware of the decline in national identity. Living through a full-scale invasion brought me a strong sense of belonging, radicalism, hatred, extreme feelings of guilt, helplessness, apathy, and tears. I cannot imagine walking or being outside at night, and I do not remember life before 24 February. I expressed my feelings in my poems. Tears, discussions, sharing important information, and financial help reduced feelings of guilt. Lately, I have felt very helpless, and this feeling is growing, along with the thought that there is no future for me in Ukraine, no idea of a future in other countries’. Still, I try to focus on my duties and opportunities to help speed up victory. I am very grateful to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and volunteers. Glory to Ukraine!