The article presents the results of a research conducted in the frame of
Hamburg University Programme for Scholars at Risk – Science Bridge for Ukraine.
The purpose of the study is to research emotional states of Ukrainian families
with children who fled the war abroad (refugees) or calmer regions of Ukraine
(internal displaced persons). The families were selected incomplete (the father
stayed in the hotspot or in the war), which consisted mainly of mothers,
adolescents and children. By interviewing mothers, the psycho-emotional states
of each of the three groups (mothers, adolescents, children) in four locations
of escape from the war were revealed: in the hotspot, during the fleeing from
the hotspot, upon arrival at the new location, and after 6 months of staying in
the new location. All emotional states of each of the three groups were
categorized into 6 groups of emotions:
anxiety-based emotions, anger-based emotions, grief-based emotions,
disgust-based emotions, curiosity-based, and joy-based emotions. The goal of
the identification of these emotional states is to prepare the psychosocial
supporters to emotional challenges they will face in work with refugees and
internal displaced persons. The results of this research can be used in
training of future mentors or helpers (psychologists, social workers, teachers,
volunteers, etc.) to cope with psycho-emotional problems of the mothers,
adolescents, and children in critical life situations. This study complements a
number of other studies on the psycho-emotional state of refugees and
internally displaced persons. Its novelty and value lie in grouping and
categorizing the emotional reactions and states of the three most vulnerable
populations in the four most important locations.
