This paper presents a comparative social-psychological analysis of social distance among citizens of five Western Balkan countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Croatia) toward citizens of Russia following the escalation of the armed conflict in Ukraine. Utilizing a comparative sample, a methodologically modified version of the Bogardus Social Distance Scale was administered using a forced-choice design of dominant preference, thereby adapting the measurement instrument to a nominal level. The significance of regional differences and the intensity of the association were verified through appropriate statistical data analysis. The findings indicate a pronounced regional polarization and stable differences in the dominant cognitive categorization of the outgroup, depending on the specific sociopolitical and historical context of the home country.Keywords: social distance, modified Bogardus scale, forced-choice design, Western Balkans, armed conflict in Ukraine, intergroup relations.

Contemporary digital environments have significantly transformed the developmental context of adolescence, influencing the processes of socialization, identity formation, emotional regulation, and interpersonal relationships among young people. The subject of this paper concerns the analysis of the impact of social media and the modern digital environment on the psychological health of adolescents, with particular emphasis on anxiety, depression, the phenomenon of Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), and cyberbullying as dominant psychosocial risks of the digital age. Furthermore, the study analyzes the role of the school system in the prevention of cyberbullying. The aim of this paper is to examine, through a review of relevant contemporary literature, the ways in which the digital environment affects the fulfillment of basic psychological needs and the resulting psychological outcomes. Methodologically, the paper is based on a review analysis of scientific sources from the fields of psychology and digital studies. The findings indicate that the use of social media is potentially associated with reduced psychological well-being, thereby confirming the importance of internal motivational mechanisms in understanding adolescents’ digital behavior.