Improving the integration of Ukrainian refugees in France and reducing psychological abuse
The main aim of this research project is to understand how citizen solidarity works with Ukrainian exiles outside France’s major cities, particularly in rural areas.
Loneliness is recognized as a key predictor of premature mortality. Its impact on the adaptation process of Ukrainian refugees in a new, socially excluded environment is an obstacle to their social adaptation in the new country, France, which has provided high social guarantees to over 100,000 Ukrainian citizens fleeing war. Indeed, social inclusion depends directly on the existence of strong social ties, which are hampered by the refugees’ social isolation and loneliness.
The aim of this project is to identify a reliable means of measuring loneliness, and an effective method of reducing loneliness among Ukrainian refugees, thereby improving social ties in the new society and reducing the psychological violence they may experience.
Specifically, the research seeks to 1) assess the quality of social ties, 2) determine the level of loneliness or social isolation among Ukrainian refugees in France, and 3) understand whether loneliness or social isolation is linked to psychological violence.
The study is being conducted among Ukrainian refugees who were forced to leave Ukraine due to Russian military aggression on Ukrainian territory after February 24, 2022. It consists of a systematic literature review to identify measures of social exclusion and loneliness, and the creation of a new indicator of social exclusion and loneliness, which is then used to measure social exclusion and loneliness among a large group of Ukrainian refugees. The analysis focuses in particular on the link between social isolation/loneliness and experiences of psychological violence.
The scientific interest of this study lies in the fact that there are as yet few studies in the psychological literature on the reliability of instruments for measuring refugees’ loneliness, isolation and resulting adjustment difficulties. That’s why this project focuses, among other things, on a systematic review of existing measures. There is also little research identifying the most effective measures for reducing refugee loneliness, the relationship between loneliness and social connectedness, and the relationship with psychological abuse among refugees in need.
My interest in studying refugee issues in Ukraine stems from the fact that I myself am a Ukrainian refugee who was granted temporary protection in France and the opportunity to conduct psychological research at Grenoble-Alpes University. I decided to devote myself to the project “Improving the adaptation of Ukrainian refugees in France and reducing psychological violence”, because I know first-hand the problems of loneliness, the fears of refugees in their host country, and the linguistic and cultural obstacles they encounter.
This research project is being supervised by Dr Hans Rocha Eisermann, from Grenoble-Alpes University, who is an eminent specialist in social psychology.
Biography
Tetiana Stoianova is a lawyer and researcher on civil procedure issues at Odessa National Law University, and also holds a Master’s degree in psychology. Since obtaining temporary protection in France, she has been able to carry out research in psychology at the University of Grenoble-Alpes.