PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE IN CRISIS SITUATIONS: A PSYCHOLOGICAL REVIEW OF SOCIAL FACTORS OF COPING

Abstract

This article presents a psychological overview of how social and professional support factors influence the ability of individuals – particularly women of middle age – to cope with crisis situations.Based on empirical data, the study identifies and analyzes the roles of four primary social components: family support, friendships, professional support, and access to community resources. The findings demonstrate that individuals with higher levels of perceived support, especially from family and close friends, exhibit greater emotional resilience and lower levels of psychological distress.The study also evaluates the effectiveness of different forms of psychological assistance, including individual and group therapy, self-help strategies, and crisis hotlines. Results show that individual therapy is the most effective, particularly for respondents with low to moderate levels of crisis, while group therapy offers added value in promoting social integration and shared experience. Self-help techniques such as journaling, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices are helpful for moderately affected individuals. Conversely, crisis hotlines were rated as the least effective due to their short-term and impersonal nature. Moreover, the research highlights the psychological risks associated with unaddressed emotional tension, noting that average levels of anxiety, aggression, and rigidity may mask latent distress.Effective crisis recovery requires not only internal resources such as resilience and cognitive flexibility but also external support networks. The authors advocate for integrated approaches to psychological care, emphasizing the importance of psychoeducational programs and individualized therapeutic strategies – particularly for high-risk women experiencing prolonged anxiety and emotional exhaustion.