Mental health and parenting among war-affected Ukrainian families: A multi-context study

Shelashska, Rayisa

Item

Mental health and parenting among war-affected Ukrainian families: A multi-context study

Shelashska, Rayisa

Date

2025-07-23

Abstract

This mixed-methods study examined how war exposure, social support, and daily stressors affect the mental health and parenting practices of Ukrainian caregivers across three displacement contexts: refugees (22.3%), internally displaced persons (22.9%), and non-displaced families (52.7%). Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and the ecological resilience framework, the study explored how multi-level stressors shape the functioning of caregivers affected by war. The analytic sample included 319 Ukrainian caregivers who completed standardized quantitative surveys and open-ended qualitative questions. Daily stressors strongly predicted distress, but neither daily stressors nor perceived social support moderated the pathway from trauma to mental health. Structural equation modeling showed that caregiver mental health significantly mediated the relationship between war exposure and harsh parenting, especially among non-displaced caregivers. Qualitative findings revealed cumulative stressors across ecological levels, with the most frequent challenges related to psychological strain, war exposure, economic hardship, and war-related fear and instability. Together, results highlight mental health as a key mechanism linking war trauma to disrupted parenting. Findings emphasize the need for caregiver-centered interventions and structural supports to protect family well-being in conflict-affected settings.