The Ukrainian version of the Perceived Injustice Questionnaire: A psychometric evaluation

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Trauma Studies

Background:

• Perceived injustice is a significant factor in the mental health of war survivors.
• Understanding and measuring perceived injustice is crucial for effective mental health interventions in conflict-affected populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Ukrainian translation of the Perceived Injustice Questionnaire (PIQ).
• To assess the reliability and validity of the Ukrainian PIQ among individuals exposed to the war in Ukraine.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 170 war-exposed Ukrainians.
• Participants completed the Ukrainian PIQ, alongside measures for PTSD (PCL-5), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and potentially traumatic life events (LEC-5).
• Psychometric properties including internal consistency, factor structure, and criterion validity were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The Ukrainian PIQ demonstrated excellent overall reliability (α = .90) and strong correlations with PTSD (r = .71), depression (r = .62), and generalized anxiety disorder (r = .61) symptoms.
• While the original factor structure was not replicated, the PIQ significantly predicted mental health outcomes beyond potentially traumatic life events.
• The PIQ explained substantial variance in depression (33%), GAD (31%), and PTSD (45%) symptoms.

Conclusions:

• The Ukrainian PIQ exhibits promising psychometric properties and is a significant correlate of mental health outcomes in war survivors.
• The findings support the construct validity of the PIQ for assessing treatment needs in Ukrainians affected by war.
• Further research should explore the cross-cultural adaptability of the PIQ.