Culture Shock Among Ukrainians in the Context of Migration to Poland

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive study of culture shock and re-entry shock among Ukrainian migrants who chose to settle in Poland, with a particular focus on the refugee wave following February 2022. The objective of the analysis was not only to identify immediate adaptation barriers but, more importantly, to understand the psychological mechanisms of entering a new culture under conditions of forced relocation. In the theoretical section, Kalervo Oberg’s classic model of adaptation stages is critically examined and contrasted with the reality of Ukrainian migrants, for whom linguistic proximity provides a unique context for acculturation. The empirical part is based on survey research, which allowed for the mapping of the participants’ emotional trajectories – ranging from feelings of disorientation and anxiety, through attempts at linguistic assimilation, to the phenomenon of “reverse shock.” The results indicate a strong correlation between communicative competence and the reduction of acculturative stress, while also shedding light on the issues of hybrid identity and difficulties with reintegration in the home country.