RESILIENCE OF OLDER UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IN GERMANY: RESULTS OF AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

Abstract

The ongoing large-scale war, in addition to posing a direct threat to life, has forced millions of Ukrainians to live under conditions of acute and chronic stress, which adversely affects both physical and mental health and significantly reduces individual resilience. While all people are exposed to stress to varying degrees, certain socio-demographic groups are relatively more vulnerable due to factors such as age, health status, and life circumstances, including forced migration, or the combined effect of multiple adverse conditions. Changes in resilience and their impact on health are difficult to measure objectively; therefore, surveybased approaches relying on subjective self-assessment are of particular importance.

Despite the impossibility of eliminating stressors in wartime conditions, it remains crucial to assess individuals’ resilience, their ability to withstand adverse factors and recover after their impact ceases, in order to adequately evaluate the situation within specific population groups and to develop targeted interventions aimed at strengthening resilience. The aim of this study was to assess the level of resilience (stress resistance) among Ukrainian citizens aged 60 years and older (n = 53) who were granted temporary protection in Germany under conditions of prolonged war-related stress, as well as to identify age- and gender-related characteristics of adaptive capacity to stress factors. The analysis was based on data obtained using the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) from Ukrainian citizens aged 60 years and older who were residing in Germany under temporary protection status at the time of the study (January—February 2026). For comparison, data from a focus group of younger Ukrainian refugees aged 20—59 years (n = 12), as well as residents of the Chernivtsi region (n = 14) aged 60 years and older who have remained in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, were also included. The findings indicate a low level of resilience among Ukrainian refugees in Germany. The average score reflecting respondents’ self-assessment of their reactions to stress, their ability to cope with difficulties and return to normal functioning after adverse events was 2.5 points. A slight age-related variation was observed: lower resilience scores were found in the younger subgroup (60–69 years: 2.3 points) compared to respondents aged 70 years and older (2.8 points). Gender differences were also identified: across all age subgroups, men temporarily residing in Germany rated their resilience higher than women (2.9 vs. 2.3 points, respectively). Similarly, men aged 60 and older residing in the Chernivtsi region also reported higher resilience levels compared to women (3.0 vs. 2.2 points, respectively). Objective limitations in achieving a representative sample determined the exploratory nature of the study. Nevertheless, the obtained results are consistent with findings from other studies in this field, which supports their validity. The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) can be recommended as a practical tool for rapid assessment of resilience-related resources, as well as for the development and strengthening of resilience in individuals and groups. The results may also be used to monitor changes over time and to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

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