In a stranger's house: social isolation of internally displaced persons in war times

Abstract

This article explores the impact of internal displacement during wartime in Ukraine on individuals' social isolation. This study focused on understanding and comparing feelings of isolation in two different contexts: the native community in territories temporarily occupied by Russian troops since the full-scale war and the host community. The research reveals a consistent pattern of isolation characterized by feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion among internally displaced persons, irrespective of their location. Cultural disconnection emerges as a significant factor in both settings, with war-induced changes in social norms and practices leading to a sense of alienation in native communities, and the challenge of adapting to new cultural environments in host communities. This study highlights the difficulties faced by IDPs in building new social networks and the added complexity of emotional exhaustion caused by the ongoing war. It also underscores the heightened vulnerability of IDPs to bias, stigma and anxiety in social interactions. Overall, this qualitative study advances the understanding of the effects of displacement on social isolation and provides insights that can inform effective recovery strategies and foster of a resilient, cohesive national identity in post-war contexts in Ukraine.