Features of the resilience of internet-active youth in new regions of Russia

The paper is devoted to the study of the resilience of Internet-active youth living in the new regions of the Russian Federation (Zaporizhzhia region). Amid ongoing social and political transformations, the study of psychological resources that ensure personal resilience and successful adaptation among youth is of particular relevance. Hardiness is conceptualized as an integrative personal trait that includes components such as control, commitment, and challenge (according to the S. Maddi model), as well as adaptability, perceived resourcefulness, and goal orientation. The study involved 458 respondents aged 18 to 30, divided into groups with high and low levels of internet activity based on the author’s research questionnaire "Level of Internet Activity" (A.I. Luchinkina, M.S. Bogdan), the A.I. Luchinkina questionnaire "Personality in the Internet Space," and the questionnaire "Index of Immersion in the Internet Environment" (L.A. Regush et al.). To assess the level of hardiness, the Personal Views Survey III-R (S. Maddi; Russian adaptation by D.A. Leontiev and E.I. Rasskazova) and the “Antivitally and Hardiness” questionnaire by O.A. Sagalakova and D.V. Truevtsev were used. Based on the obtained data, it can be concluded that the level of internet activity among respondents is closely linked to their resilience and personal characteristics. The most stress- and risk-resistant participants are those in the high internet activity group: they demonstrate stronger indicators on the scales of psychological support, self-regulation, striving for success, and a positive vision of the future, while showing fewer anti-vital thoughts and experiences. In contrast, respondents with low internet activity display more frequent anxious ruminations, feelings of abandonment, helplessness, and anti-vital tendencies. Participants with medium internet activity are characterized by the widest variation of results: although most of them show an average level of resilience, both high and low indicators are also present. The statistically significant differences identified (χ²emp ranging from 10.09 to 14.93 at p < 0.01) confirm that the intensity and quality of digital engagement largely determine young people’s personal resources, their ability to cope with difficulties, and their resistance to maladaptive tendencies. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential for developing psychological support programs that take into account the digital behavior of young people in Russia’s new regions.