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Background:The study examines the prevalence of depression among university students in Poland, the UK and India in the face of the second pandemic wave of COVID-19. The paper also examines the protective role of perceived social support, the hypothesis being that social support from friends would reduce depression. Methods: The data from university students (N=732) in Poland (N=335), UK (N= 198), and India (N=199) were collected online during of the fall/winter 2021. Participants completed measures of depression (CES-D), COVID-19 risk perception index, loneliness (DJGLS), and perceived social support (MSPSS). Results: Almost 52% of all participants (58.5% in Poland, 62.6% in the UK, and 29.1% in India) met the criteria for major depression. The higher levels of depression symptoms were associated with a higher perceived risk of COVID-19, greater loneliness, female gender, younger students' age, and the lower levels of perceived social support. The greater family support predicted lower levels of depression symptoms in the Polish and Indian samples. Structural equation analyses (SEM) revealed the indirect effect of perceived social support from friends on the association between social loneliness and depression and between age and depression. This result shows that the support from friends significantly reduced depression, regardless of age, the level of social loneliness, and the perceived risk of COVID-19. Conclusion: Our conclusions link to university specialists' enhancement of psychological help for students with depression. We also recommend information campaigns on depression and treatment options.

Experiencing war arouses feelings of injustice, which in turn can activate angry feelings toward God. The purpose of the present study was to assess the relationship between anger toward God, faith maturity, interpersonal decision-making, forgiveness, psychological well-being and spiritual well-being among war refugees from Ukraine who arrived in Poland and Germany. Data from paper-and-pencil surveys were collected from 243 religious people aged 18-68 years, 82% of whom were women. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that anger toward God is a negative predictor of faith maturity, forgiveness and well-being (including a psychological and spiritual component as a second-order variable). In addition, positive relationships were observed between faith maturity, forgiveness and well-being. Finally, faith maturity and forgiveness serially (and forgiveness also as a simple mediator) mediated the relationship of anger toward God and well-being. The results help to explain why people who feel anger toward God are still able to experience well-being, suggesting that faith maturity may inhibit angry feelings toward God through more frequent decisions to forgive abusers.

Background: Our research aimed to assess the experiences of ethnic discrimination among students in Poland (Polish and international) during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also tested the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and their relationship with perceived COVID-19 risk, the severity of discrimination, and social support. Methods: The data from Polish (n = 481) and international university students (n = 105) were collected online (November–January 2020). Participants completed measures of ethnic discrimination (GEDS), anxiety scale (GAD-7), COVID-19 risk perception index, and perceived social support scale (MSPSS) questionnaires. Results: The results showed that international students reported being much more discriminated than Polish students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrary to our expectation, a higher risk of anxiety disorders (GAD) was observed in 42% of Polish students compared to 31% of international students. The predictors of higher anxiety symptoms among both groups were the perceived risk of COVID-19 and the greater severity of ethnic discrimination. In both groups, the perceived social support had a protective role in anxiety symptomatology. Conclusions: The high prevalence of discrimination, especially among international students, simultaneously with high symptoms of anxiety, requires vigorous action involving preventive measures and psychological support.

Experiencing war arouses feelings of injustice, which in turn can activate angry feelings toward God. The purpose of the present study was to assess the relationship between anger toward God, faith maturity, interpersonal decision-making, forgiveness, psychological well-being and spiritual well-being among war refugees from Ukraine who arrived in Poland and Germany. Data from paper-and-pencil surveys were collected from 243 religious people aged 18–68 years, 82% of whom were women. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that anger toward God is a negative predictor of faith maturity, forgiveness and well-being (including a psychological and spiritual component as a second-order variable). In addition, positive relationships were observed between faith maturity, forgiveness and well-being. Finally, faith maturity and forgiveness serially (and forgiveness also as a simple mediator) mediated the relationship of anger toward God and well-being. The results help to explain why people who feel anger toward God are still able to experience well-being, suggesting that faith maturity may inhibit angry feelings toward God through more frequent decisions to forgive abusers.