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In a Stranger’s House: Social Isolation of Internally Displaced People in Ukraine During Wartime

  • Natalia Tsybuliak ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Anastasiia Popova ORCID logo , Hanna Lopatina ORCID logo and Yana Suchikova ORCID logo
Published/Copyright: August 26, 2024

Abstract

This article explores the impact of internal displacement during wartime in Ukraine on individuals’ social isolation. This study focused on understanding and comparing feelings of isolation in two different contexts: the native community in territories temporarily occupied by Russian troops since the full-scale war and the host community. The research reveals a consistent pattern of isolation characterized by feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion among internally displaced people (IDPs), irrespective of their location. Cultural disconnection emerges as a significant factor in both settings, with war-induced changes in social norms and practices leading to a sense of alienation in native communities, and the challenge of adapting to new cultural environments in host communities. Furthermore, it highlights IDPs’ increased vulnerability to bias, stigma, and anxiety in social interactions. Overall, this qualitative study advances the understanding of the effects of displacement on social isolation and provides insights that can inform effective recovery strategies and foster a resilient, cohesive national identity in post-war contexts in Ukraine.


Corresponding author: Natalia Tsybuliak, Berdyansk State Pedagogical University, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

The research teams acknowledge the Armed Forces of Ukraine for providing safety during their research and credit their perseverance and courage for making this possible. Natalia Tsybuliak expresses gratitude to the French Research Center in Humanities and Social Sciences for the opportunity to continue the research work due to participation in CEFRES non-residential fellowships for Ukrainian humanities and social sciences scholars.

  1. Research funding: The work on this paper was funded by CEFRES non-residential fellowships for Ukrainian researchers in humanities and social sciences.

  2. Declaration: All authors have approved the submitted version. This manuscript is original and has not been submitted to any other publication for consideration. We have permission to reproduce any previously published material.

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Received: 2024-03-30
Accepted: 2024-08-01
Published Online: 2024-08-26
Published in Print: 2025-04-28

© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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