Geschichte  |  Geographie  |  Wirtschaft  |  Gesellschaft

 

Mariia Palamarchuk, 2007 | Zürich, ZH

 

This study examines how displaced Ukrainians in Switzerland express psychological resilience. The theoretical framework treats resilience not as a fixed trait, but as a context-dependent process shaped by individual-environment interactions. Drawing on concepts from physics and ecology, it measures adaptation across four dimensions: Bounce Back (recovery), Bounce Forward (growth), Environment (external resources), and Mindset (cognitive attitudes). The main research question asks how these expressions of resilience vary across age groups. Using an exploratory, descriptive approach, data were collected via an original online survey of 183 displaced individuals aged 16 and older. The analysis employed descriptive statistics, ANOVA, correlation, and regression. Results indicate medium-to-high resilience across the sample, with strong recovery and support, but lower life reconstruction scores. Statistically, age produced no significant differences in resilience levels, contrary to the hypothesis that younger people would be more growth-oriented and older people more stability-oriented. Instead, the findings show that resilience is a complex network driven primarily by adaptive mindset, education, and environmental support, rather than chronological age.

Introduction

The study asked how displaced Ukrainians in Switzerland express resilience across Bounce Back, Bounce Forward, Environment, and Mindset, and did these patterns differ by age? The hypothesis was that age shaped resilience forms: younger participants would show growth-oriented responses, while older participants would rely more on stable, support-based forms.

Methods

The study used an exploratory, descriptive survey. An original questionnaire was created in Google Docs, translated to Ukrainian, and built in Google Forms. It was distributed via social media to displaced Ukrainians in Switzerland (16+), yielding 183 responses. The survey featured six blocks: demographics, adversity, Bounce Back, Bounce Forward, Environment, and Mindset. Items used 5-point Likert, binary, or multiple-choice formats, with negatively phrased items reverse-coded into dimension averages. Data were processed in Google Sheets and Looker, then analysed in Python using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, correlation, and multiple regression.

Results

The sample showed medium-to-high resilience. Bounce Back and Environment were strongest; Bounce Forward was weakest. Statistically, Bounce Back varied least by age (ANOVA p=0.988), and Environment was also stable (p=0.434). Bounce Forward and Mindset showed the clearest age trends—with the 26-35 group scoring highest and the 66+ group lowest—but remained non-significant (p=0.082 and p=0.053). Correlation analysis revealed Mindset as the central hub, linking strongly with Bounce Forward and positively with recovery and support. Regression confirmed weak age effects, whereas education and study engagement correlated positively with adaptive outcomes.

Discussion

The study partly answered the research question, but the hypothesis was not statistically confirmed. Why did age matter so little? Because displacement exposes everyone to profound, shifting demands—like uncertainty and disrupted roles. In such contexts, accessible resources and an adaptive Mindset matter far more than chronological age. The subtle trends we did see (younger adults leaning toward growth, older adults toward support) likely reflect natural lifespan priorities—future-building versus preserving meaning—rather than different capacities for resilience. The survey methods captured these nuances well, though the cross-sectional design and a shortage of older respondents limit causal certainty.

Conclusions

The study concludes that resilience among displaced Ukrainians in Switzerland is not mainly determined by age. It is better understood as a context-dependent process shaped by Mindset, environmental support, education, and opportunities for adaptation. The hypothesis that younger participants would be clearly more adaptable than older ones was not confirmed. What remains open is whether subtle age-related differences would appear in a larger and more balanced sample or in a longitudinal study. Future research should include more older participants and examine how language, integration, and support systems influence long-term adaptation.

 

 

Würdigung durch den Experten

Hans Rudolf Schelling

Mariia Palamarchuk untersuchte in ihrer Arbeit Dimensionen der psychischen Resilienz ukrainischer Flüchtlinge in der Schweiz. Sie prüfte dabei die in einschlägigen Theorien gestützte Hypothese, dass sich die Strategien nach Alter der befragten Personen unterschieden. Es wurden keine signifikanten Unterschiede, wohl aber Tendenzen im Sinne der Hypothese gefunden. Die Arbeit zeichnet sich durch eine klare und innovative Fragestellung, eine passende theoretische Verankerung, eine zielführende und korrekt durchgeführte Methodik sowie eine sprachlich und grafisch überzeugende Kommunikation aus.

Prädikat:

Gold

Sonderpreis «European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS)» gestiftet von der Stiftung Aldo e Cele Daccò

 

 

 

Freies Gymnasium Zürich
Lehrerin: Heleen Derveaux