Study seeks Ukrainian Americans to learn about war's ripple effects

While extensive research has documented the devastating impact of war on those experiencing it firsthand, a new study aims to fill a critical gap in understanding: How does conflict affect people thousands of miles away who share cultural and familial ties to the war zone?

Christina Pitio, a Clinical Psychology Master's student at Columbia Teachers College, is conducting groundbreaking research examining how the Russo-Ukrainian War is affecting Ukrainian Americans—and she's calling on community members to participate.

"We have volumes of data on the direct effects of war: anxiety, depression, PTSD, economic devastation, and premature death," Pitio explains. "But what about the less immediate consequences? How does war in one's country of origin affect someone whose family emigrated generations ago? What happens to people who aren't experiencing the conflict directly, but whose family members are?"

Closing the Research Gap

The study addresses a significant blind spot in existing research by focusing on the secondary psychological and emotional impacts of war. While the human cost of conflict on those in Ukraine is well-documented and undeniable, the diaspora experience remains largely unexplored in academic literature (for the Russo-Ukrainian War or any other war, for that matter).

Pitio's research will examine current data on direct war trauma while investigating the unique experiences of Ukrainian Americans watching the conflict unfold from abroad. The findings could shed light on how cultural identity, generational ties, and family connections influence the psychological impact of distant warfare.

Who Can Participate?

The study is open to anyone who identifies as Ukrainian or Ukrainian American, is at least 18 years old, and has been living in the United States for at least five years. Participation is straightforward and can be completed through an online contact form. Individuals who wish to participate in this important research can register through the study's contact form. The research seeks participants across all generations—from relatively recent immigrants to those whose families have been in America for decades.

View Christina's presentation about the study:

About the Researcher

Born and raised in New Jersey, Pitio earned her Bachelor's degree in General Psychology at Rutgers University and her Associate's in Art at Brookdale Community College. The current study serves as her graduate thesis, which will complete her Master's program at Columbia."This study is personal to me," says Pitio, a first-generation American. "I'm very proud of my heritage and have spent recent years deepening my connection to both sides of my family tree. To some degree, this research is part of that effort."

Pitio recently married and moved to Edison, New Jersey, near the Ukrainian History and Education Center (UHEC), with whom she has begun collaborating. She plans to continue her education, pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with the goal of becoming a child therapy specialist.

"This study is personal to me," says Pitio, a first-generation American whose Ukrainian father and Cuban mother immigrated in the 1960s. "I'm very proud of my heritage and have spent recent years deepening my connection to both sides of my family tree. To some degree, this research is part of that effort."