SPECIFICITY OF ADAPTATION AMONG UKRAINIAN WOMEN IN THE CONTEXT OF EXPATRIATION IN MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive study of the psychological mechanisms and adaptation strategies of Ukrainian women in the context of expatriation. The relevance of the study is driven by contemporary globalization processes and the increasing number of women who relocate for professional self-realization or personal goals, facing risks of culture shock, language barriers, and sociocultural isolation. Particular attention is paid to the specificity of female identity, which requires the simultaneous fulfillment of multiple social roles within a new environment. The empirical study involved a sample of 25 respondents aged 26–65 who had been residing in Middle Eastern countries (Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) for at least six months. The research employed a set of validated psychometric instruments: the Rogers–Diamond Social-Psychological Adaptation Scale, the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Five-Factor Model of Personality (OCEAN), and the BASIC PH-36 model for identifying stress-coping strategies. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the development and substantiation of a two-component model of adaptability that differentiates between “direct” (resource-based) and “compensatory” types of adaptation. Based on the analysis of neuroticism, anxiety, and integral adaptability indicators, three psychological profiles were identified: resourceadaptive, moderately adaptive, and compensatory-adaptive. The results demonstrate that “direct adaptability” is characteristic of the resource-adaptive group and is defined by low anxiety, high emotional stability, and a balanced use of internal resources. In contrast, “compensatory adaptability” (typical of the second and third groups) relies on the intensive activation of defense mechanisms to overcome elevated levels of neuroticism. A trend has been identified where this type of adaptation is energy-intensive and unsustainable, creating prognostic risks of maladaptation and the depletion of personal potential. The results highlight the necessity of implementing specialized psychological support programs for female expatriates to enhance their emotional resilience and facilitate social integration.