Psychology of home and Ukrainian migrants’ socio-psychological adaptation abroad

Olha Korobanova; Neonila Schulzhenko

doi:10.33120/sssppj.vi50(53).604

Olha Korobanova Institute for Social and Political Psychology of NAES of Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3539-871X
Neonila Schulzhenko https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3189-4177

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33120/sssppj.vi50(53).604

Keywords: psychology of home, socio-psychological adaptation abroad, acculturation, construction of experience, narrative, migrants, refugees from Ukraine

Abstract

Study goal and methods. Study of the course of socio-psychological adaptation of Ukrainian refugees abroad, their perceptions of home and host country, as well as intergroup interaction between Ukrainian refugees and the autochthonous population.

The research was conducted within the framework of the scientific approach to intergroup interaction as the dynamics of conscious and unconscious. Case study of narratives of Ukrainian migrants as a form of representation of individual meanings and thematic construction of experience was conducted.

Conclusions. A structured life world that integrates the experience associated with the evacuation of refugees from Ukraine and the new stage of life abroad, based on the construction of personal experience into meaningful event blocks, is a prerequisite for successful socio-psychological adaptation and acculturation in the host country. During integration into the host society migrants learn new relevant communicative and social roles. Group support provided to refugees by other Ukrainians in a similar situation as well as by representatives of the host country and volunteers is of great importance.

The limitations of the study are related to the situational nature of narrative interviews, the variability of events and meanings that are significant for the individual at the moment.

Prospects for further research include the study of age-specific features of socio-psychological adaptation abroad and the temporal dynamics of this process.

Practical Importance. Data from the original descriptive study of the socio-psychological processes of acculturation indicate the importance of group support and experience construction in overcoming stress and can be used in the provision of psychosocial support to Ukrainian military migrants.

Author Biographies

Olha Korobanova, Institute for Social and Political Psychology of NAES of Ukraine

PhD in psychology, senior researcher at Department of small groups and intergroup relations

Neonila Schulzhenko

Psychologist online

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