Mental Health Perceptions Among Ukrainian Adults Socialized Under Soviet Rule: A Qualitative Exploration of Stigma, Resilience, and Cultural Shifts
Faculty Sponsor(s)
Stephanie Armes, Ph.D.
Presentation Type
Event
Project Type
Research proposal
Primary Department
Marriage and Family Therapy
Description
This qualitative study explores how Ukrainian adults raised under Soviet rule perceive mental health and psychotherapy, and how these perceptions have evolved across generations and diasporic contexts. During the Soviet era, mental health was heavily stigmatized, with psychological services often associated with political repression or weakness. As a result, many Ukrainian families internalized a culture of silence and stoicism around emotional struggles. Through semi-structured interviews with first-generation Ukrainian adults and, where possible, their adult children, this study aims to examine how beliefs about mental health have been shaped by Soviet ideology and how they may be shifting within families or in diaspora communities. Thematic analysis will be used to identify patterns of stigma, resilience, and generational change. Findings from this research may offer culturally attuned insights for clinicians working with Eastern European clients, particularly in navigating inherited beliefs and fostering more open dialogue about emotional well-being.
Copyright Status
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Additional Rights Information
Copyright held by author(s).
Mental Health Perceptions Among Ukrainian Adults Socialized Under Soviet Rule: A Qualitative Exploration of Stigma, Resilience, and Cultural Shifts
This qualitative study explores how Ukrainian adults raised under Soviet rule perceive mental health and psychotherapy, and how these perceptions have evolved across generations and diasporic contexts. During the Soviet era, mental health was heavily stigmatized, with psychological services often associated with political repression or weakness. As a result, many Ukrainian families internalized a culture of silence and stoicism around emotional struggles. Through semi-structured interviews with first-generation Ukrainian adults and, where possible, their adult children, this study aims to examine how beliefs about mental health have been shaped by Soviet ideology and how they may be shifting within families or in diaspora communities. Thematic analysis will be used to identify patterns of stigma, resilience, and generational change. Findings from this research may offer culturally attuned insights for clinicians working with Eastern European clients, particularly in navigating inherited beliefs and fostering more open dialogue about emotional well-being.
Rights Statement
