Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The aim of this study is to identify the psychological characteristics of the development of European identity among Ukrainian students on the basis of an empirical study. Research methods. To conduct the study, the author developed a questionnaire entitled 'The State of Development of European Identity among Ukrainian Students in Wartime'; the method of analysis was used to characterise and interpret the survey results; the dialectical method was applied to establish links between the data obtained; the method of generalisation was used to compare the results obtained; the systemic-structural method was applied to interpret the questionnaire data as a coherent system reflecting the respondents' European worldview, and conclusions were drawn using the inductive method. Key findings. Based on an empirical study, the state of development of European identity amongst students at Kherson National Technical University has been assessed. It was found that 62 per cent of the surveyed higher education students consider themselves European, 87 per cent believe that Ukraine belongs to European civilisation, are confident that Ukraine is defending European values in the current Russian-Ukrainian war (82 per cent), and almost all believe that Ukrainians value freedom more than Russians (98 per cent). It was found that around 90 per cent of students believe that most European countries support Ukraine, though not sufficiently. The majority of respondents believe in Ukraine's accession to the EU (70.90 per cent) and consider the Ukrainian education sector to be integrated into the European Union's educational area (60 per cent). Most students share European values such as democracy, freedom, civil society, freedom of expression, tolerance, gender equality, Christianity, humanism, and opposition to corruption, amongst others. Furthermore, the majority of students not only feel resilient (65 per cent) but are also involved in voluntary work (60 per cent). Scientific novelty. This study introduces up-to-date data on the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the development of European identity amongst Ukrainian students; it identifies Ukrainian students' attitudes towards core European values; and it examines their level of participation in voluntary work and their ability to cope in wartime conditions. Practical significance. The research findings can be utilised for further empirical studies on the development of European identity among Ukrainian students, and applied in the work of government bodies, educational institutions, cultural organisations, the media, and psychologists, amongst others. Based on the empirical study, it has been concluded that Ukrainian students possess a well-developed European identity, the strength of which continues to grow amidst a full-scale war.
Source: Academic Visions
Author: Oleksandr Borysovych Tatarchenko
Institution: Kherson National Technical University
Language: Ukrainian
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7204128375