Resilience Among Displaced and Non-Displaced Ukrainian Women During the War: An Exploratory Cluster Analysis

Abstract

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exposed millions of individuals to traumatic experiences, displaced them under temporary protection, and caused psychological distress. This exploratory study examined resilience, emotional experiences, and psychosocial profiles among displaced and non-displaced Ukrainian women affected by the war. A total of 249 adult women participated, including 122 displaced women under temporary protection residing in Spain and 127 women living in Ukraine. Participants completed the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE). Group comparisons and cluster analyses were conducted to identify distinct psychosocial patterns. Displaced women showed slightly higher resilience scores than non-displaced women, although differences were not statistically significant. Non-displaced women reported significantly higher levels of both positive and negative emotional experiences, suggesting greater emotional intensity among those remaining in Ukraine. Cluster analyses identified three psychosocial profiles: an adaptive profile characterized by high positive affect, low negative affect, stronger social support, and higher resilience; a vulnerable profile marked by low social support, elevated negative affect, and lower resilience; and an intermediate profile showing high negative affect despite moderate-to-high social support. Although displaced women under temporary protection were more represented in the vulnerable profile, this association was not statistically significant. The findings highlight the heterogeneity of psychological adaptation during war and displacement and emphasize the protective role of resilience and social support.