Resource-oriented Model of Psychological Support for Women With Children in the Context of War-induced Forced Migration
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This article presents the findings of an empirical study on the psychological resources of women with children experiencing war-induced forced migration and substantiates a resource-oriented model of psychological support designed to enhance their psychological well-being and adaptation. The relevance of the study is due by the urgent need to support Ukrainian women who, following the outbreak of the full-scale war, have been compelled to adapt to new sociocultural environments while simultaneously managing maternal, social, and professional roles under conditions of prolonged stress and uncertainty. The aim of this study is to develop and provide a theoretical rationale for a resource-oriented mod- el of psychological support based on the findings of an empirical investigation into the psychological characteristics of women with children experiencing forced migration. The study involved 160 women with children who left Ukraine after 24 February 2022 and are currently residing in European countries. The research employed T. Tytarenko’s Life Perspective of Personality technique, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the So- cial-Psychological Adaptation Inventory developed by C. Rogers and R. Dymond, and the Sentence Completion Test. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and qualitative content analysis. The findings indicate a moderate level of social-psychological adaptation among the participants. Emotional comfort emerged as the most vulnerable component of adaptation, whereas internality was identified as the primary psychological resource, reflecting the preservation of an internal locus of control. Strong positive correlations were found among social-psychological adaptation, self-accept- ance, emotional comfort, acceptance of others, and internality. Family was identified as the primary source of perceived social support, while support from friends was reported to be comparatively less pronounced. The analysis of participants’ life perspectives revealed a predominance of short-term planning, with major priorities centered on ensuring children’s safety, achieving stability in living con- ditions, and facilitating professional integration. Motherhood was identified as a key meaning-making psychological resource that supports resilience and future-oriented coping. Based on the empirical findings, a resource-oriented model of psychological support was devel- oped. The model encompasses five interrelated components: psycho-emotional stabilization, activation of internal psychological resources, the development of a positive life perspective, strengthening of social support, and the enhancement of maternal competence and social integration. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential application of the proposed model by psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, support centers for forcibly displaced persons, non-governmental organizations, and international humanitarian programs. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the psychological resources that facilitate the adaptation of Ukrainian women with children experiencing war-induced forced migration and may serve as a foundation for the development of comprehensive psychosocial support interventions.
Authors: O.M. Vasylchenko, T.S. Morzevska
Institution: KROK University
Language: English
Topic: Migration, Health and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223322717