War and women: An analysis of Ukrainian refugee women staying in the Czech Republic

Abstract

In addition to the loss of life, Russian aggression against Ukraine, which began in February 2022, also brings interpersonal losses resulting from the need to emigrate. Parallel to the fighting men, women bear most of the burden of caring for the family. Using in-depth interviews supplemented by questions about adverse childhood experiences and administration of The Centrality of Events Scale and the PTSD Checklist -PCL-5 with 43 Ukrainian women (18-60 years old), we analyzed adaptation to the situation of emigration and the association of their war and earlier experiences with the level of traumatization. Women were interviewed shortly after emigration to the Czech Republic (3-42 week afterward). High levels of adverse childhood experiences and post-traumatic stress symptoms were found. The war was perceived as a currently negative central event associated with traumatic stress symptoms, and 79% of the sample expressed the opinion that the war had changed them. The results of this study suggest an intertwining of previous life experiences with the current need and ability to adapt. Impact statementWar, though a devastating event, presents an opportunity to examine the complexities of human behavior and adaptation. Adaptation takes place in the context of the region, for example, in the way the war is fought, the host country's capabilities and willingness to accept refugees. The Czech Republic has accepted large numbers of Ukrainian refugees after the country had long rejected refugees. Nevertheless, the situation of refugees, and especially of women, is difficult. In addition to the current need to adapt to conditions in the Czech Republic, women are haunted by their own past and ideas about the future. Using a small sample of Ukrainian women, this study uses in-depth interviews to map their perceptions of their past, present and future situations. The adaptation of these and other Ukrainian women and their perception by Czech society is crucial for the future acceptance or rejection of refugees in the Czech Republic. Furthermore, our study contributes to the understanding of the interplay among multiple situational and psychological elements that may increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder and maladaptive behavior in the region and beyond.