National identity as both cure and curse: The effects of three facets of national identification on post‐traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms in wartime Ukraine

Abstract

The social cure hypothesis proposes that national identification can be beneficial to the well‐being and mental health of ingroup members. However, research has also identified a social curse phenomenon in which identification can exacerbate distress and undermine recovery after trauma. We propose that these seemingly paradoxical phenomena arise from the effects of different dimensions of identification. To test this approach, we examined the context of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, as the actions of Russian troops, bombings, and the loss of homes and relatives are all sources of trauma for Ukrainians. Our research hypothesised that ingroup ties and ingroup affect would serve as protective factors, while identity centrality would serve as a risk factor for post‐traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. Using two studies conducted among Ukrainians living in Ukraine ( N ₁  = 1012) and Ukrainian refugees in Poland ( N ₂  = 381), we consistently found that identity centrality was positively associated with PTS symptoms. In addition, Study 2 provided evidence for the protective role of ingroup ties and affect. These findings clarify how specific dimensions of national identification may function as either a ‘social cure’ or a ‘social curse’ during ongoing conflict, with important implications for mental health interventions for war‐affected populations.