Vita Krol
57929392100
Publications - 7
Social integration of internally displaced persons in Ukraine: Problems and challenges for governing local communities
Publication Name: Problems and Perspectives in Management
Publication Date: 2024-01-01
Volume: 22
Issue: 1
Page Range: 728-740
Description:
This study aims to evaluate social integration and obstacles for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in local communities for further improvement of governing local communities regarding the integration of IDPs in new surroundings. The expert sample included 38 representatives of relevant authorities, scientists, NGOs, and volunteer organizations from 11 Ukrainian regions. The survey was conducted using the online questionnaire method via Google Forms. The results show the low participation of IDPs in most political and civil activities in new communities. The level of social integration according to these criteria is, respectively, 3.0 and 3.2 points out of 6 possible. At the same time, the level of economic integration (3.7 points) and integration into cultural and sports initiatives (3.6 points) are comparatively high, which are a feature illustrating the readiness to be involved in some kinds of activities in a new community. A significant result is also the fact that according to most signs of social integration, in the evaluations of experts, there are assessments of the activity of IDPs at a level that exceeds the activity of residents (6 points). Such results indicate the existence of a resource for developing communities due to the use of the potential of IDPs. This is especially characteristic of activities in counteraction to russian aggression, involvement in grant and project activities, search for opportunities for legal income, and support of social justice principles in labor relations.
Open Access: Yes
SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN UKRAINE: PERCEPTIONS FROM IDPS VS. THE HOST POPULATION
Publication Name: Economics and Sociology
Publication Date: 2024-01-01
Volume: 17
Issue: 4
Page Range: 61-81
Description:
The social integration of internally displaced persons in Ukraine is analysed based on 5 dimensions of social integration: economic, political and religious, social, socio-psychological, and integration into cultural and sports life. The study was conducted using a nationally representative sociological survey of internally displaced persons (500 respondents) and the population of host communities (850 respondents). Differences in the perception of integration are investigated based on comparing the assessments of internally displaced persons and the population of the host communities. The highest integration is obtained in the socio-psychological, political and religious dimensions. The lowest level is in integration into community life. An important empirical result is the lower scores of the population compared to IDPs in almost all 21 criteria for integration. This is an indirect sign of significant social distance and lower readiness of the population of host communities, compared to IDPs themselves, to seek opportunities for interaction. The cluster analysis reveals the links between the most significant factors for successful integration: mutual respect between IDPs and local residents, tolerance, active engagement in local policy-making, and support for country defence. The most crucial obstacles to successful integration according to IDPs’ judgements are lower possibilities compared to the local population in participation in projects aimed at local communities’ development (65,3%), entrepreneurship development (60% of responses), and participation in decision-making regarding the community development (55,9%). The findings are important for developing policies to reduce the social exclusion of IDPs in areas where integration is below average.
Open Access: Yes
Social Capital Factors Fostering the Sustainable Competitiveness of Enterprises
Publication Name: Sustainability Switzerland
Publication Date: 2022-10-01
Volume: 14
Issue: 19
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The study aimed to determine the factors of social capital (SC) of enterprises that can have a significant impact on achieving sustainable competitiveness. In this regard, the study tested the SEM-analysis method for evaluating hypotheses regarding the influence of factors of relational, cognitive and structural social capital of enterprises on financial and non-financial indicators of competitiveness. Empirical data for the study were obtained on the basis of a sociological survey conducted by the authors of managers and owners of enterprises in Ukraine from December 2020 to March 2021. The obtained results and modelled relationships of factors confirmed the significant influence of factors of social capital of enterprises on competitiveness. At the same time, the results revealed the most essential influence of efforts to develop strategic partnerships with suppliers (as part of structural SC), efforts to form a positive image of the enterprise and satisfaction with horizontal relationships (as part of relational SC), general satisfaction with the psychological climate in the team, the establishment of corporate culture as well as own efforts to support and develop corporate culture (among the factors of cognitive SC).
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3390/su141911905
SOCIO-ECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF MILITARY VETERANS IN UKRAINE: PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS AND POLICY CHALLENGES
Publication Name: Problems and Perspectives in Management
Publication Date: 2025-01-01
Volume: 23
Issue: 4
Page Range: 232-246
Description:
Military veterans constitute a distinct social group whose socio-economic integration is becoming increasingly urgent due to the growing number of veterans, which today approaches one million individuals. The aim of this study is to assess the problems related to the socio-economic integration of military veterans and to explore potential solutions, taking into account public perceptions and the population’s readiness to support veterans. In 2024 a sociological survey targeted 516 veterans and 850 members of the general population in Ukraine. Data were processed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 20). The findings indicate that, despite certain societal stereotypes, the relationship between these groups is predominantly positive. The mean population assessment of conflict in relations does not exceed 2.35 points (on a five-point scale), while veterans’ assessments do not exceed 2.75 points. Veterans’ relations with state authorities responsible for social guarantees are less favorable, with evaluations ranging from 2.46 to 3.24 points. The most prevalent form of support for veterans is the willingness to provide financial or material assistance (20.6% and 24.4% of respondents, respectively). There are promising conditions for encouraging support for veteran-led businesses: 7.8% of respondents indicated a preference for purchasing goods from such enterprises. Furthermore, 9.1% of respondents expressed support for the development of economic incentives for companies established by veterans or employing veterans. The results provide a basis for improving state programs for veteran integration, suggesting that traditional support measures may be significantly strengthened by policies aimed at increasing veterans’ active participation in economic life.
Open Access: Yes
Social protection or economic participation? Examining drivers of Ukrainian refugees' integration in Europe
Publication Name: Research in Globalization
Publication Date: 2026-06-01
Volume: 12
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The unprecedented wave of Ukrainian refugees caused by the war placed the problem of refugee integration at the centre of demographic policy and scholarly debates. Therefore, there is a growing need to examine interconnections among economic participation, social inclusion, and access to social protection, which are commonly treated as dimensions of integration. This study examines the appropriate interplay among Ukrainian refugees across ten European host countries using aggregated 2024 data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Composite indices in each direction are developed to capture the integration dimensions, and their relationships are assessed using correlation and regression analyses, as well as typological comparisons. The findings indicate a strong positive association between economic integration and social protection (Pearson's r = 0.812, p < 0.01). In contrast, social integration shows no statistically significant association with either economic participation (r = −0.486, p = 0.155) or welfare engagement (r = −0.150, p = 0.680), suggesting that this dimension may operate independently of the other two at the country level. The typology of hosting countries, based on comparisons of economic integration and social protection indices, identifies four distinct integration types shaped by national institutional contexts. It is found that the “high-integration - high-protection” model prevails in half of the observed countries, in contrast to a low-capacity type of refugees' inclusion characterized by deficits in both economic inclusion and welfare access. The results do not support the assumption that reliance on welfare undermines labour market integration; rather, the macro-level data suggest that access to social protection co-occurs with higher economic participation.
Open Access: Yes
MEDIA INFLUENCE AND USER BEHAVIOUR IN THE NEWS ENVIRONMENT: TRADITIONAL VERSUS SOCIAL MEDIA
Publication Name: Human Technology
Publication Date: 2026-05-01
Volume: 22
Issue: 1
Page Range: 219-238
Description:
This study investigates behavioural patterns in identifying disinformation within news environments, where algorithmically curated information flows shape humantechnology interaction. Using data from the 2025 Eurobarometer survey (n=26,114), the research employs statistical analysis to compare users' attitudes towards news in traditional and social media. Findings indicate a significant disparity: while 65.9 % of respondents express high confidence in recognising fake news, 34.1% remain unconfident. Notably, high engagement with social media correlates with a greater exposure to disinformation. Women tend to have slightly higher self-reported exposure to disinformation (23.8%) than men (21.1%). Results demonstrate that demographic factors, particularly age and years of education, significantly shape information-checking behaviours. By adopting a human-oriented perspective, the study highlights how digitally mediated environments structure users' interaction with information and condition their capacity to critically assess its reliability.
Open Access: Yes
Perceived fairness in access to higher education in wartime Ukraine: Social inequalities and trust in admission testing
Publication Name: Regional Science Policy and Practice
Publication Date: 2026-09-01
Volume: 18
Issue: 9
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The accessibility of higher education during wartime is an essential tool for reducing inequality, retaining talent for post-war recovery, and advancing human development. To increase access to higher education amid a deficit in public finances, Ukraine has introduced mandatory Standardised Admission Testing to fairly assess academic achievement and create a level playing field when choosing a speciality and a higher education institution. At the same time, public perception of fairness and equality in university admissions has changed significantly during the war, as our study shows. Its empirical basis is data from a representative national survey conducted in 2021, 2023, and 2025, which included 5123 respondents. As found, young people, both before the full-scale invasion (2021) and during the full-scale war, placed the most trust in national testing, compared to older age groups, including the generation of parents. Besides, regional differences are evident: residents of the West had significantly higher trust in testing in 2021, but trust later increased in the central and eastern regions as well. Across all demographic characteristics, the share of respondents expressing trust increased in 2023 compared to 2021. In 2025, trust decreased significantly. The most consistent differences were observed by age and region, while income and settlement-type differences appeared primarily at the bivariate level or under specific contextual conditions. Thus, higher levels of trust were observed among residents of urban-type settlements and smaller cities, as well as among higher-income groups, although these patterns were not consistent across all models and waves. The results provide partial support for the proposed hypotheses and carry implications for state policies aimed at strengthening equal access to higher education for youth.
Open Access: Yes
