Social Support Increases Resilience and Affect in Non-Displaced Ukrainians and Refugees After a Year of War

Background: This study investigates the impact of social support on resilience and affect among Ukrainian individuals affected by war (non-displaced persons and refugees), one year after the onset of the conflict. Method: A total of 344 participants were recruited and categorized into two groups: non-displaced individuals and refugees. Measures included the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE), the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Rigorous back-translation was conducted for the BRCS and MSPSS to ensure solid psychometric properties. Results: Findings revealed higher levels of both positive and negative affect in the non-displaced group compared to refugees, along with significant disparities in perceived social support. Path modeling using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) demonstrated the interconnections between the studied variables. It is worth noting that the ‘family’ subscale of the MSPSS emerged as the most influential predictor of affect. Conclusions: Social support demonstrated an effect on resilience and affect. Resilience was identified as a dynamic and potentially mediating factor. This underscores the importance of social support networks, particularly familial support, in promoting well-being among populations affected by conflict.