Psychological Challenges and Adaptation Mechanisms of Ukrainian Migrants in the UK: A Qualitative Study of Social and Systemic Barriers

The full-scale war and mass forced migration of Ukrainians have formed a new configuration of psychological, social and integration challenges, which are especially evident in the host countries, including the UK. The relevance of the topic is due to the need for a deeper understanding of how the combination of military experience, external institutional barriers and cultural adaptation affects the psycho-emotional state of Ukrainian migrants. The aim of the study is to study the interaction of psychological states, socio-systemic barriers and adaptive strategies of Ukrainian migrants, the object of which is the process of their psychological and social adaptation in the UK. The methodology is based on a mixed approach, combining in-depth interviews and online surveys with subsequent quantitative analysis of integral indicators and correlations. The results showed that anxiety, emotional exhaustion and sleep disturbances are the most common manifestations, the intensity of which is increased by the influence of difficulties in accessing health services, problems with renting housing, information opacity and the complexity of university or administrative procedures. It was found that social support from the Ukrainian community, regular contact with family, physical activity and structured routine are the most effective adaptive strategies, while self-regulation techniques demonstrate lower effectiveness in high-stress conditions. Correlation analysis confirmed the close relationship between psychological stressors and external barriers, as well as the positive impact of adaptive strategies on the level of subjective integration. The practical significance lies in the possibility of using the obtained data by universities, migration organizations and public services to develop more personalized support programs, optimize access to medical and information services and create conditions for more effective social integration of Ukrainian migrants in the UK.