Social Capital Transformation, Voluntarily Services and Mental Health During Times of Military Conflict in Ukraine

Abstract

Background: The effects of war as well as military conflict include long-term physical and psychological harm to children and adults. Social relations and trust play a role in peace building and conflict resolution. Social capital is believed to facilitate institutional and interpersonal trust as well as safety and security, and thus may become an important resource in times of military conflict.Objective: The aims of this study are to analyse how social capital may be transformed due to a military conflict in contemporary Ukraine and to explore the role of voluntarily services in this change. Further we aim to discuss the possible influence of social capital transformation on mental health in times of military conflict.Methods: A qualitative case study design was chosen to explore it. In-depth interviews were chosen as a method for data collection. Informant's selection criteria were: either to be involved in volunteering activities in the city of Khmelnitsky (which is the place of research) or to receive volunteering help. 18 interviews were conducted.Informants were reached by snowball sampling. Interviews are collected, transcribed, translated and analyzed using constructive Grounded Theory approach of Charmaz. Results:Our results show that social capital transforms during military conflict experiences. The changes happen both in cognitive and structural components since they are connected. The most important changes occur in bonding social capital, where new formation such as brotherhood, emerges and replaces previous bonding ties with family and friends. In addition, voluntarily acting actors (those who normally belong to bridging social capital) transform into relations with bonding entities. New forms of social capital are thus generated through the existence of voluntarily services, and these networks provide essential social support in times of military conflict. Perceived support softens negative emotional responses to traumatic events. In line with the stress-buffering model, our results support that the formation of new social capital in times of military conflict may protect against the negative mental health effects of these experiences.

Nash – Disequilibrium, Random Decisions and Imbalance of Society: Is it Relevant to Ukraine?

“…The best confirmation of this fact is pervasive volunteer activity. This outcome follows the same pattern as the research mentioned previously by Karhina, Ghazinour, Ng, & Eriksson (2017).…”

“…The presence of such powerful players as Backstabber and Stalker in society, in our opinion, created the prerequisites for the remarkable examples of strength and courage of the Ukrainian people we observe now. Karhina, Ghazinour, Ng, & Eriksson (2017) argue that social capital transforms during military conflict with changes happening both in cognitive and structural components. Authors pay attention on changes occurring in bonding social capital, where new formation such as brotherhood, emerges and replaces previous bonding ties with family and friends.…”

Voluntary Work during Times of Military Crisis: What Motivates People to Be Involved and What Are the Effects on Well-Being?

“…Our previous study on social capital transformation in times of military conflict in Ukraine shows that social capital of those who are involved in volunteering during times of military conflict changes and new forms of social capital emerge. In addition, this new formation of social capital may have protective effect of mental health of those who are involved in volunteering (Karhina, Ghazinour, Ng, & Eriksson, 2017).…”

“…Thus, a lot of volunteering activities emerged as a response to a revolution (which took place in [2013][2014] and transformed into more formal and organized volunteering activities towards the military conflict (that started in 2014). Different types of social support were provided through these activities such as informational, instrumental, as well as emotional and companionship support (Karhina, Ghazinour, Ng, & Eriksson, 2017). Military actions have influenced the well-being of those who are involved in military actions, people who live at the territory where it happens, volunteers who are actively involved in helping and the rest of the population in a secondary way.…”