SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF ADAPTATION OF DEMOBILIZED PARTICIPANTS OF THE UKRAINIAN-RUSSIAN WAR TO CIVILIAN LIFE

Abstract

The article offers a comprehensive analysis of the socio-psychological features of adaptation among demobilized participants of the Ukrainian-Russian war as they transition from military service to civilian life. The study emphasizes that the return from combat is not limited to logistical or social reintegration but represents a profound psychological transformation requiring reconstruction of identity, values, and behavioral patterns. Drawing on contemporary Ukrainian and international research, the article highlights key challenges frequently experienced by veterans, including emotional instability, heightened anxiety, irritability, depressive symptoms, and a sense of disconnection from civilian society. These manifestations are interpreted as indicators of maladaptation arising from the clash between rigid military structures and the fluid, often unpredictable nature of civilian life.
A central focus of the article is the conceptualization of accommodation, as proposed by Jean Piaget, understood as the restructuring of cognitive schemas in response to new realities that cannot be assimilated through previous experiences. In the context of demobilized soldiers, accommodation functions as a pivotal psychological mechanism enabling the formation of a renewed identity that is compatible with peaceful existence. Alongside this, the article explores the phenomenon of post-traumatic growth, demonstrating that–as evidenced in the works of Tedeschi, Calhoun, and Ukrainian scholars–trauma may initiate positive psychological development, such as enhanced self-reflection, deeper appreciation of life, strengthened interpersonal bonds, and increased resilience.
The analysis underscores that neither accommodation nor post-traumatic growth can unfold effectively without supportive social conditions. The absence of institutional, community, and interpersonal support increases the risks of emotional exhaustion, chronic maladaptation, and social dysfunction. Therefore, the article concludes that successful reintegration of former military personnel requires a complex system of psychosocial interventions aimed at stabilizing emotional states, fostering cognitive flexibility, and guiding veterans toward constructive redefinition of their post-war identity. Directions for further research are proposed, particularly regarding cognitive transformations that accompany accommodation during the transition from combat to civilian environments.