Coping with loneliness in wartime: identity narratives of internally displaced persons (a qualitative analysis of crisis, resourceful and emotionally charged identities based on the tst method)

Abstract

Introduction. The full-scale war in Ukraine has sharply intensified both socio-psychological and existential challenges related to the experience of loneliness — particularly among internally displaced persons (IDPs), who have suffered not only the loss of their homes but also the disruption of stable social roles and identity anchors. In this context, the issue of self-identification and overcoming identity crisis becomes particularly relevant in psychological terms.

Purpose. The article aims to examine the identity narratives of Ukrainian IDPs through the lens of loneliness, with a specific focus on emotionally vulnerable, resource-based, and crisis-related self-descriptions obtained via the TST (Twenty Statements Test) method.

Methodology. The study included 63 participants—internally displaced persons from temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine, residing in various regions, including Kyiv. Data were collected through an open-ended "Who am I?" prompt following the TST protocol and were analyzed using mixed qualitative and categorical coding, including classification by identity category, emotional valence, and resourcefulness level. Particular attention was given to profiles marked by psychological vulnerability, loss of coherence, or contradictory self-definitions.

Results. The findings demonstrate that most IDPs construct their identity through social roles (71.4%), predominantly familial and professional. However, a significant subset of responses reveals signs of emotional exhaustion, identity fragmentation, and existential disorientation. Positive emotional valence and resourceful identities prevail overall, but roughly 10% of the sample represents crisis or borderline profiles, often characterized by negative or ironic expressions. A strong association was found between emotional valence and resourcefulness (Cramér’s V = 0.57), while associations with age and gender were statistically insignificant.

Conclusions and prospects for further research. The identity profiles of Ukrainian IDPs reflect a complex interplay of trauma, adaptation, and meaning-making. Crisis identities serve not only as indicators of vulnerability but also as potential starting points for psychological transformation. The TST method proves to be a flexible tool for capturing both stable and disrupted aspects of identity under conditions of forced displacement and societal instability.