Is the Quality of Life of Women Who Went Abroad During the Full-Scale Russian-Ukrainian War Really Higher Compared to Women Who Stayed in Ukraine?

Abstract

Purpose: to research the quality of life of different women: those who, despite the risks, remained in Ukraine, and those who were forced to move.
 Materials and Methods. 376 young (25–44 years old) women were interviewed using WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The survey was anonymous and voluntary. The questionnaire was distributed in the form of a Google form.
 Results. Russia's military invasion of the sovereign European state Ukraine at the time of the democratic values dominance on the territory of Europe became a real challenge for the entire civilized world. Naturally, the war affects the emotional state, everyday life, public opinion, interpersonal relations, socio-economic situation, employment, public activity, all the factors that determine the quality of life. Despite the fact that most women do not take part in hostilities, they felt the consequences of the invasion no less acutely than men, who were forced to defend their homes from the first days of the war. A huge number of women were forced to leave their homes and rebuild their lives. For a woman, especially with minor children, this is a real challenge, because despite humanitarian aid from supporting countries, they are deprived of their families and friends, the part of life that inspires and supports them to the fullest extent.
 The study showed that, in general, the quality of life of women who were forced to leave Ukraine and are in physical safety during the war is not higher than that of women who stayed at home and risk their lives every day. We tried to analyze which areas of women's lives were most affected by the war. Women who left Ukraine, despite feeling safe, suffer from a lack of microsocial support and are generally not satisfied with their physical and psychological well-being, which has an impact on the overall quality of a woman's life.
 Conclusion. Women who stayed to live in Ukraine during the war experience anxiety much more often than women who left the country, but remain socially active, able to work and feel healthier.