EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS ON RESILIENCE AND VULNERABILITIES AMONG UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
Description
Research question How do the resilience and psychosocial vulnerabilities of Ukrainian refugees in the Republic of Moldova influence their ability to adapt and integrate into the new context, and how do these processes contribute to human security within the crisis generated by the war in Ukraine? The goal is to understand how individual and collective resilience influences refugees' adaptation to life in the Republic of Moldova and how it can strengthen human security by ensuring a balance between their immediate protection and long-term integration. Evaluation of research hypotheses Hypothesis 1 „Ukrainian refugees who are married or in stable relationships exhibit higher levels of resilience than those who are single or divorced” is partially validated. Correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between marital status and resilience (p=0.030), suggesting that married or partnered refugees exhibit higher resilience scores than those who are single or divorced. Hypothesis 2 „Refugees with higher levels of education report a better quality of life” is partially validated. Analysis results suggest that refugees with higher educational levels report better quality of life, with a significant correlation between education level and quality of life (p=0.000). This indicates that education positively influences social and professional integration, leading to a better perception of quality of life. However, there are some nuances regarding how refugees perceive adaptation to a different environment. Hypothesis 3 „Refugees from urban backgrounds are more adaptable to life in the Republic of Moldova than those from rural backgrounds, due to their familiarity with more complex social and economic systems” is partially validated, but with some nuances. The analysis showed a significant negative correlation between urban background and quality of life (p=0.003), suggesting that refugees from rural areas face greater difficulties adapting compared to those from urban backgrounds. This could indicate that, although urban refugees are familiar with complex structures, they may face greater challenges in integrating into Moldova’s system due to economic and social differences. Hypothesis 4 „There is a positive correlation between resilience scores and the quality of life reported by refugees” is validated. There is a moderate, significant correlation between resilience and quality of life (p<0.01). The results suggest that refugees with higher resilience scores report a better quality of life, confirming that resilience plays a significant role in maintaining psychosocial well-being and adapting to life in a new environment. Although the hypotheses are generally validated, there are additional variables that could influence these factors, such as social support, pre-existing trauma, and other aspects related to socio-economic integration.