CULTURAL IDENTITY AND CROSS-CULTURAL ADAPTATION OF UKRAINIAN WOMEN IN FORCED AND VOLUNTARY MIGRATION: A CASE STUDY
Keywords:
integration, war, challenges, refugee, displacement, culture shock
Abstract
This article examines the strategies for preserving cultural identity and the peculiarities of cross-cultural adaptation among the Ukrainian women who participated in a case study.The study is based on the analysis of culture shock stages by Oberg and acculturation strategies outlined in Berry’s model. Five Ukrainian women in forced migration (in Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK) and five females in voluntary migration (in India, Poland, Italy, and Germany) participated in this research. Data collection methods of the study include a survey in Google Forms, direct observation, and phenomenological interviews. A software program MAXQDA was used for qualitative data analysis. The results show that the Ukrainian women in both forced and voluntary migration encounter challenges such as language barriers, social exclusion, differences in social norms, and difficulties in medical services. They experience crisis, recovery, and adjustment stages of culture shock, with common emotions including anxiety, homesickness, confusion, frustration, curiosity, and excitement. Key adaptation resources involve social support, experiential learning, and digital media. Regardless of migration type or future plans, women maintain cultural identity through native language use, traditional celebrations, Ukrainian cuisine, and cultural events. These insights can assist NGOs, psychologists, and social workers in creating more effective programs for integration and mental health support of migrants.
References
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24. Wang, C. H., & Varma, A. (2019). Cultural distance and expatriate failure rates: The moderating role of expatriate management practices. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 30(15), 2211–2230.
25. Ward, C.; Bochner, St.; Furnham, A. (2005). The Psychology of Culture Shock. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis e-Library.
2. Andrushko, Y. and Lupei, M. (2025), Acculturation Processes and the Experience of Traumatization in the Case of Forced Ukrainian Migrants. Int J Psychol, 60: e70036. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.70036
3. Andrushko, Y.; Lanza, S.T. (2024). Exploring Resilience and Its Determinants in the Forced Migration of Ukrainian Citizens: A Psychological Perspective. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 21, 1409. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21111409
4. Berry, J.W. (1997). Immigration, Acculturation, and Adaptation. Appl. Psychol. Int. Rev., 46, 5–34.
5. Bhaskar-Shrinivas, P., Harrison, D. A., Shaffer, M. A., & Luk, D. M. (2005). Input-based and time-based models of international adjustment: Meta-analytic evidence and theoretical extensions. Academy of Management Journal, 48(2), 257-281.
6. Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2016). Thematic analysis. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(3), 297–298.
7. Feniks. Counselling, Personal Development and Support Services (2023). The Mental Health Needs of the Ukrainian Refugees in Scotland. Community Research Report. London: Feniks. Counselling, Personal Development and Support Services Ltd. Retrieved 16 August, 2025 from: https://feniks.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Feniks_2023_Ukrainian_Refugees_Mental_Health_Survey_Report.pdf
8. Huff, K.C.; Song, P.; Gresch, E.B. (2014). Cultural intelligence, personality, and cross‐cultural adjustment: A study of expatriates in Japan. Int. J. Intercult. Relat., 38, 151–157.
9. Ishchenko, Y., Rusnak, A., Artemov, V., Syniavskyi, P., & Soroka, I. (2024). Psychological and Pedagogical Aspects of Adaptation of Students Who Received Temporary Shelter to the Educational Environment of Another Country. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v24i1.6766
10. Kolinko, M. (2019). Intercultural Communication: from Distinction to Inclusion. In: Intercultural Сommunication, 6(1), pp.189-212.
11. Kolinko, M., & Aleksandrova, O. (2024). Modern life experience of Ukrainian migrants in the context of intercultural strategies. Skhid, 6(3), 26–31. https://doi.org/10.21847/2411-3093.633
12. Kurapov, A., V. Pavlenko, A. Drozdov, V. Bezliudna, A. Reznik, and R. Isralowitz. (2023). “Toward an Understanding of the Russian-Ukrainian War Impact on University Students and Personnel.” Journal of Loss and Trauma 28, no. 2: 167–174. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2022.2084838.
13. Liao, Y.K; Wu, W.Y.; Dao, T.C.; Ngoc Luu, T.‐M. (2021). The Influence of Emotional Intelligence and Cultural Adaptability on Cross‐ Cultural Adjustment and Performance with the Mediating Effect of Cross‐Cultural Competence: A Study of Expatriates in Taiwan. Sustainability, 13, 3374. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063374
14. Oberg, K. (1960). Cultural shock: Adjustment to New Cultural Environments (Reprint). Practical Anthropology, 7(4), 142–146. https://doi.org/10.1177/009182966000700405
15. Oliinyk, O., & Oliinyk, A. (2024). Ukrainian forced migrants in Edinburgh: how the Homes for Ukraine scheme worked. Sociological Studios, 1(24), 69–78. https://doi.org/10.29038/2306-3971-2024-01-33-33
16. Oviedo, L., B. Seryczy ´nska, J. Torralba, et al. (2022). “Coping and Resilience Strategies Among Ukraine War Refugees.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 20: 13094. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013094
17. Reic, I. (2023). Understanding Expatriates' Cultural Adjustment and Performance in Inter- national Assignments. The Qualitative Report, 28(9), 2814-2833. https://doi.org/10.46743/2 160-3715/2023.5918
18. Setti, I., Sommovigo, V. & Argentero, P. (2022). Enhancing expatriates’ assignments success: the relationships between cultural intelligence, cross-cultural adaptation and performance. Current Psychology, 41:4291–4311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00931-w
19. Smetanska, M., & Rubtsova, S. (2025). PSYCHOLOGICAL REHABILITATION OF DIS- TANCE LEARNING STUDENTS DURING WAR. Academia Polonica, 69(2), 75–5. https://doi.org/10.23856/10.23856/6908
20. Soroka, I. A. (2022). The phenomenon of war as the booster of violent behaviour. In The Russian-Ukrainian war (2014–2022): historical, political, cultural-educational, religious, economic, and legal aspects. Riga, Latvia: “Baltija Publishing,” 1398-1407. https://doi.org/10.30525/978-9934-26-223-4-178
21. Synowiec, A. (2022). BARRIERS OF CULTURAL ADAPTATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE INFLUX OF UKRAINIAN WAR REFUGEES TO POLAND. Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology Organization and Management Series, (165), 371–381. https://doi.org/10.29119/1641-3466.2022.165.26
22. Sysak, I., Koliesnichenko, T. & Gutterman, I. (2025). How Many Ukrainians Will Remain In Their Country After The War? RFE/RL. Retrieved 17 August, 2025 from:https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-population-war-migration-refugees/33347583.html
23. UN Women. (19 February 2025). Press release: Three years of full-scale war in Ukraine roll back decades of progress for women’s rights, safety and economic opportunities. Retrieved 17 August, 2025 from:https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/press-release/2025/02/three-years-of-full-scale-war-in-ukraine-roll-back-decades-of-progress-for-womens-rights-safety-and-economic-opportunities
24. Wang, C. H., & Varma, A. (2019). Cultural distance and expatriate failure rates: The moderating role of expatriate management practices. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 30(15), 2211–2230.
25. Ward, C.; Bochner, St.; Furnham, A. (2005). The Psychology of Culture Shock. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis e-Library.
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Published
2025-10-30
How to Cite
Soroka, I. (2025). CULTURAL IDENTITY AND CROSS-CULTURAL ADAPTATION OF UKRAINIAN WOMEN IN FORCED AND VOLUNTARY MIGRATION: A CASE STUDY. Scientific Journal of Polonia University, 71(4), 291-303. https://doi.org/10.23856/7133
Section
HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT
