Coping and Resilience Strategies among Ukraine War Refugees

Lluis Oviedo (), Berenika Seryczyńska, Josefa Torralba, Piotr Roszak, Javier Del Angel, Olena Vyshynska, Iryna Muzychuk and Slava Churpita
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Lluis Oviedo: Faculty of Theology, Pontifical University Antonianum, 00185 Rome, Italy
Berenika Seryczyńska: Faculty of Theology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, Poland
Josefa Torralba: Theological Institute Murcia, 30003 Murcia, Spain
Piotr Roszak: Faculty of Theology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, Poland
Javier Del Angel: Faculty of Theology, Pontifical University Antonianum, 00185 Rome, Italy
Olena Vyshynska: Independent Scholar, Ukraine
Iryna Muzychuk: Independent Scholar, Ukraine
Slava Churpita: Independent Scholar, Ukraine

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 20, 1-14

Abstract: (1) Background: The war in Ukraine has triggered a huge humanitarian crisis: millions of refugees have escaped from their homes looking for shelter beyond Ukraine’s borders. This emergency offers a unique opportunity to investigate and to document those characteristics of the human condition that emerge in exceptional circumstances provoked by war. Based on considerations derived from recent studies on resilience, the research at the base of this paper was conducted to better understand the circumstances, states of mind, and coping mechanisms of the refugees leaving their homes looking for security. (2) Methods: A qualitative approach was applied, resorting to semi-structured interviews (n = 94) to closely explore the traumatic experiences lived by refugees and to identify their coping strategies. (3) Results: The data obtained pointed to a plurality of coping and resilience strategies. Maintaining communication with separated loved ones as well as experiencing accompaniment by helpers and hosts emerged as principal elements for coping and resilience. It was found that a prior development of interior life or practice of prayer served as psychological “capital” that increased their resilience. (4) Conclusion: The results point to the need to care for social networking, attention by hosts, and cultivating interior life as keys for resilience.

Keywords: refugees; trauma; resilience; coping; altruism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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