Citizenship formation and resilience among Ukrainian female migrants: case studies from Norway
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: The escalation of the armed Russian/Ukraine conflict in 2022 precipitated a significant humanitarian crisis. The ensuing forced migration, trauma, and family separation presented complex challenges, particularly for women. This study aims to understand complex social phenomena through a detailed examination of how Ukrainian female refugees in Norway navigate citizenship formation and develop resilience strategies while in transit. Methods: Utilizing a collective case study approach, the research that was anchored in Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) collected, as part of the treatment approach, narratives from six Ukrainian female refugees in Norway. Narrative and thematic analysis were employed on the data, which was interpreted through the theoretical frameworks of citizenship and resilience. Results: The study revealed citizenship as a dynamic, multidimensional process characterized by strategic institutional engagement, identity reconstruction, and adaptive resilience. Participants demonstrated a remarkable capacity to transform refugee status from a passive categorization to an active process of belonging. Key mechanisms included leveraging professional identities, maternal experiences, and emotional adaptation strategies. Discussion: This research provides multidimensional insights into forced migration experiences, highlighting the complex interplay between individual agency and institutional support. It challenges traditional understandings of citizenship, emphasizing resilience as a continuous, context-dependent process of negotiation and adaptation.
Source: Frontiers in Psychology
Institution: Høyskolen Kristiania
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
Funder: Høyskolen Kristiania
OpenAlex ID: W7118747978