Research group as helpers due to the war in Ukraine: Focus group experiences of women researchers

Xenia Roszik-Volovik; Anna Paula Brandão; Nóra Kollárovics; Bernadett Frida Farkas; Eszter Frank-Bozóki; Lili Olga Horváth; Zsuzsa Kaló; Lan Anh Nguyen Luu; Judit Balazs

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1139252

Research group as helpers due to the war in Ukraine: Focus group experiences of women researchers

Front Psychiatry. 2023 Mar 1:14:1139252. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1139252. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Developmental and Clinical Child Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
² Doctoral School of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
³ Doctoral School of Mental Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
⁴ Nemzetközi Cseperedő Alapítvány (International Cseperedő Foundation), Budapest, Hungary.
⁵ Department of Counselling and School Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
⁶ Institute of Intercultural Psychology and Education, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
⁷ Department of Psychology, Oslo New University College, Oslo, Norway.

Abstract

Introduction: World Health Organization studies have shown that one in every five people who have experienced war or other conflicts suffers from a mental health disorder, the most vulnerable groups being children and women. According to international guidelines, mental health care should be made available immediately in the event of disaster. With the first influx of Ukrainian refugees to Hungary at the outbreak of the war, the Research Group of Childhood Mental Health at Eötvös Loránd University and Semmelweis University in Budapest immediately decided to help by transforming itself into a support group for refugee families. The members of the support group are all women. The aim of the present study is to explore the motivation behind the transformation of the research group and the help it provided. A further aim was to compare the group's experiences with descriptions in the literature of impacts on helpers who work with refugees.

Methods: The current paper reflects on the transformation from researchers to helpers and the effects of that transformation at group and individual level using the focus group method and consensual text analysis. The transformation of the support group necessitated the involvement of students, whose experiences are also examined.

Results: We identified five main categories: context; the help recipients' perspective; the personal level; the professional level; and the level between the personal and professional.

Discussion: The analysis revealed the way in which the voluntary helping developed, the resulting difficulties, and coping options. Volunteering among Ukrainian refugees has both positive and negative psychological consequences. While stress and trauma threaten the psychological well-being of the helpers, positive aspects, such as flexibility and professional development, are also reported. Due to the strong motivation among group members and their experience in practical work, the all female research group was quickly able to transform itself into a support group.

Keywords: development of voluntary help; effects on helpers; female research group; volunteering; war in Ukraine; working with refugees.