Psychological and environmental factors influencing resilience among Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced persons: a systematic review of coping strategies and risk and protective factors

Abstract

BackgroundThere is much discussion in the literature about the link between traumatic events related to war and mental illness. However, in comparison, mental health has been more researched than protective factors such as coping methods, which are the primary factors to build resilience in these circumstances. This review examines the psychological and environmental elements that influence the resilience of Ukrainian refugees and IDPs by analyzing coping strategies and risk and protective factors.MethodsA literature search was conducted on PsycINFO, Pubmed, Scopus, and Science Direct, with 259 articles screened and 13 determined as eligible for inclusion. Inclusion criteria were: (1) studies on adult Ukrainian refugees and/or IDPs; (2) original, peer-reviewed studies; and (3) studies written in English or Italian language. Single-case reports and qualitative studies were excluded, as well as those studies written in any other language, and any studies for which the full-text version could not be obtained (i.e., conference abstracts). Two reviewers independently reviewed titles and abstracts, reviewed relevant articles’ full text, and extracted the data.ResultsA diverse range of individual and socio-environmental risk and protective factors were identified, influencing the resilience of Ukrainian refugees and IDPs, as well as five main categories of coping strategies: emotion-focused strategies, problem-focused strategies, avoidance, faith-based strategies, and the ones based on sense of belonging.DiscussionWar trauma and associated stressors can lead to distressing physical and psychological reactions, which persist even after leaving the war zone. Many individual and socio-environmental risk factors, such as mental disorders, financial security, having relatives wounded or displaced, and an unfamiliar environment could influence the risk and severity of psychological difficulties, emphasizing the importance of coping strategies, social connections, faith, and cultural resilience.ConclusionThis systematic review underscores the complex range of coping strategies and factors influencing the resilience of Ukrainian refugees and IDPs. Social connections and inclusive community interventions play vital roles in improving their psychological well-being, while longitudinal studies and culturally sensitive support are needed to address their unique challenges and strengths. Implementing collaborative care models can provide comprehensive support by integrating mental health services with primary healthcare and community-based organizations.

“Will you need this health at all? Will you be alive?”: using the bioecological model of mass trauma to understand HIV care experiences during the war in Ukraine

“…At the individual level, psychosocial support can be built through individual counselling and support groups that focus on developing adaptive coping mechanisms (e.g. seeking social support, problem-solving) and skillbuilding [35,36]. Such efforts must be grounded in best practices of a trauma-informed approach, which prioritize physical and emotional safety, trustworthiness, peer support, individual autonomy, flexibility and a focus on strengths [37].…”

Impairments in psychological functioning in refugees and asylum seekers

“…Furthermore, traumatic life events are associated with common mental disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and with reduced functioning, with a more pronounced relationship in women than in men ( Robertson et al, 2016 ). Recent studies confirm the risk of psychological distress, and occurrence of depression and anxiety symptoms in RAS individuals from Ukraine ( Buchcik et al, 2023 ), while identifying several coping and resilience strategies in the context of war as well as risk and protective factors ( Oviedo et al, 2022 ; Rizzi et al, 2023 ).…”

The mental health of Ukrainian refugees: a narrative review

“…The search was conducted in February 2024. The search terms "refugee*", "war", "Ukrain*", "mental health", "wellbeing", and "PTSD" were identified from the studies by Mihajlovic et al [25], Rizzi et al [26], and LekaviCiute [27]. A search string, comprising of Boolean operators and wildcard strategies, was developed using the keywords identified above, and search criteria were limited to titles and abstracts.…”