A qualitative study of adaptation challenges of Ukrainian refugees in the United States

Abstract

This study examines adaptation challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees living in the United States (U.S.), with a focus on families with children. Since 2022, an estimated 6.8 million Ukrainian refugees have left the country, including at least 221,000 to the U.S. This population has experienced trauma and displacement and now faces new challenges of adaptation and acculturation in the U.S. after resettlement. The research team conducted in-depth interviews with 32 Ukrainian refugees and generated themes from the responses using qualitative grounded theory research methods. Findings indicated Ukrainian refugees in the U.S. are struggling with multiple adaptation challenges which group into five themes: 1) coping with the stressors of displacement, family separation, and pre-migration trauma, 2) maintaining mental health and well-being while adapting, 3) navigating the language barrier, 4) coping with gender-role conflicts related to employment status, and 5) acculturating to everyday life with U.S. institutions of education, health, transportation, and social assistance. Implications for practitioners and policymakers include clarifying future visa status for Ukrainian refugees, making English language classes and automatic translation technology easily accessible, supporting intra-community and remote mental health services, and developing economic and social packages to help this population adapt and acculturate resiliently into U.S. society. The findings are also informative for the comparative understanding of adaptation pathways of different groups of refugees and are relevant for perspectives on life course development under conditions of acculturation, trauma, and displacement.