Blame and Digital Hostility Among Displaced Ukrainians: Psychological Impacts of Leaving During War

This study examined the psychological impact of the 2022 Russian invasion on Ukrainian migrants in the United States. Using data from 703 participants, we examined whether U.S.-based Ukrainians blamed Russian citizens for the invasion, how their perceptions of Russians changed, and whether they experienced digital hostility for leaving Ukraine. A structural equation model tested the associations between these factors on cultural and family-economic stress, mental health, well-being, survivor guilt and shame, trauma, relationship conflict, and alcohol misuse. Participants who migrated to the United States after the 2022 invasion reported higher levels of blame toward Russian civilians, more negative perceptions of Russians, and greater experiences of digital hostility compared to those who arrived before the invasion. Blame, negative perceptions of Russians, and experiences of digital hostility, are interrelated and may together shape the psychological and relational outcomes of displaced Ukrainians. Results suggested that blaming Russian citizens, holding more negative perceptions, and encountering digital hostility significantly associated with poorer psychological and relational outcomes. Because of the cross-sectional design, the directionality of these associations cannot be determined. These findings suggest that war-related attributions and online hostility may exacerbate mental health difficulties among displaced Ukrainians.