Trauma and resilience among non-displaced in the early phase of the war in Ukraine

Abstract

Abstract This study investigates how civilians who remained in war-affected suburbs of Kyiv following the 2022 outbreak of war in Ukraine cope with trauma and build resilience under conditions of prolonged insecurity. Using a mixed-methods design, we combine standardized assessments of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PCL-5) with in-depth qualitative interviews conducted in suburbs of Kyiv, a region largely neglected in empirical research. Nineteen interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Two contrasting case vignettes, one with the highest and one with the lowest PTSD symptom load, were selected to show variations in resilience strategies and resources. Guided by Michael Ungar’s multisystemic social-ecological framework, the analysis explores how resilience unfolds across micro, meso, macro, and transnational dimensions and complements psychological assessments of trauma with a sociological perspective. Rather than viewing resilience as an individual trait, we highlight its relational, structural, and symbolic dimensions. The findings show how civilians sustain meaning and everyday stability under conditions of ongoing conflict, contributing to research on trauma recovery and resilience in active conflict settings.