Ukrainian Society

19-34

Authors: Dembitskyi S. S.

Paper dwells upon the theoretical background, as well as the empirical results of tool use offered in the European Social Survey for the assessment of personal and social well-being. The analysis is based on the results of the measurement scale use for emotional well-being, vigorousness, and functionality. As a successful one, the author names the testing of internal coherence and factor validity for the energy scale. For the other two scales, the results are, at best, controversial. This is especially true for the scale of emotional well-being, when it comes to Russian or Ukrainian version of the methodology. Also, author evaluates peculiarities of use in the European Social Survey of the short version of CES-D, – a well-known scale for measuring psychological distress among the general population. It has been found that CES-D is characterized by high theoretical and factor validity, as well as high internal consistency. However, the question is triggered on the specificity of the factor structure of the methodology. Possible explanations in this case are as follows: bipartite emotional experience; biases caused by specific items; a synthesis of two phenomena in the framework of one method. Generally, a number of problems typical for measuring personal and social well-being in the European Social Study have been identified: failure to take into account the broad institutional capacity, eclecticity in the consideration of the phenomenon of personal well-being, and the lack of unification of individual indicators. As a possible solution of these problems, the author considers the appeal to the theoretical and methodological framework of the sociology of psychological distress. In this context, it is promising to assess the scale of emotional well-being and CES-D in the analysis of various components of the stress process, as well as to assess the quality of these scales in different European countries.

53-69

Authors: Pankova O. V., Kasperovych O. Yu.

The changes that took place in Ukrainian society during 2014-2018 proved the significance and effectiveness of the social self-organization of Ukrainian citizens and the activities of civil society in Ukraine. Throughout the 2014-2018 period, the role of civil society in solving the problems of internally displaced persons (IDPs) was (and remains) very significant. An analysis of the situation with IDPs in Ukraine shows that over the past two years there have been significant changes that require clarification of the priorities, main directions and tasks of practical activities, forms and methods of interaction between the main social actors that have to protect the rights of IDPs. The main changes in the situation with IDPs compared to the initial period of forced internal migration are the following: stabilization of the number of IDPs; reduction of volunteer activity connected with IDPs; increasing the role of government bodies and structures in addressing IDPs problems; reduction of public interest in the IDPs and their problems; reduction of international support for projects and programs aimed at solving IDPs problems; completion of the process of IDPs integration into host communities; an increase of the number of IDPs that no longer plan to return to their former places of residence. At the same time, the stabilization of the situation with the IDPs is combined with the actual absence of significant positive dynamics in the last two years in solving their main problems. It indicates the inadequate performance of the state and other social actors in this area. In view of these changes, it is necessary to move from situational response to the acute problems associated with the survival of the IDPs in a critical situation, to systematic integrated activities aimed at the full integration of IDPs into host communities on an ongoing basis. Methodological approach to transition from general principles and priorities to specific practical activities on the protection of the rights of IDPs is appropriate to build on the principles and criteria of the protection space concept. It is advisable to determine the directions of formation of the protected area for the IDPs in host communities with the key spheres of human life: social and cultural interaction, economic activity, political activity and provision of basic needs. Accordingly, the basic areas of civil society participation in the creation of a protection space of IDPs are: promoting the establishment of constructive social relations between IDPs and the host community, promoting productive employment and entrepreneurship among IDPs, restoring all IDPs rights to participate in political life, and ensuring the basic needs of IDPs in housing, nutrition, medical care, education, social services at a level not lower than state-guaranteed standards.

80-102

Authors: Becker M., Balakireva O. M., Isac S., Cheuk E., Pavlova D. M., McLarty L., Mishra S., Pickles M., Lorway R., Sandstrom P., Blanchard J., Nugent Z.

By 2016, Ukraine had the second largest HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia with 280,358 people living with HIV. Interventions targeted for FSWs are a key component of HIV prevention programs as heterosexual contacts continue to gain higher epidemic significance – the proportion of the sexual way of HIV transmission has steadily increased and reached the value of 73,3% in 2016. However, HIV prevention programs for female sex workers generally provide services to women who self-identify as sex workers. Thus, programs aimed at female sex workers may not reach women who exchange sex for money or other resources, but who do not identify as sex workers. The Transitions study aimed to better understand vulnerabilities to HIV, HCV, and other STBBIs among young women in Dnipro prior to, and in the very early period after entry into sex work. In order to inform HIV prevention services in Dnipro, this study examines self-reported behaviours that shape HIV vulnerability and place young women in Dnipro at increased risk for HIV infection. A multistage, stratified cluster sampling approach identified a random sample of participants between 14 and 24 years old. A team of field researchers conducted structured interviews with participants to gather information about their sexual behaviours and drug use practices using a standard quantitative tool. Authors present results from epidemiological mapping exercises and bio-behavioural surveys carried out among young women. This paper focuses on select components of the larger Transitions study, and has four aims: identifying and characterizing locations in which study group members congregate/reside in Dnipro, Ukraine; estimation the population sizes of the three study groups in Dnipro; examination how vulnerabilities to HIV and HCV overlap among study group members; and characterizing and estimate the duration of the transition period and access gap. Paper discusses the period of time between a woman’s first sex and self-identification as a sex worker as the “transition period”, and the period after formal entry into sex work, but prior to accessing health services from sex worker-specific programs, as the “access gap”. This study highlights numerous individual-level risk factors, as well as social and structural vulnerabilities for HIV faced by young women in Dnipro. Combination HIV prevention programmes that integrate behavioural, biomedical, and structural interventions are recommended to expand upon existing, local prevention efforts in Dnipro, and Ukraine more broadly.

113-126

Authors: Artomova T. I.

At the turn of the centuries and millennia, social relations in most world countries have undergone significant modifications. Global market transformations, which have matured for a long time in the economic systems of developed countries, were associated with the emergence of a “new” (information network) economy. In the end of the 20th century, they have formed preconditions for the transformation of the paternalistic model of a social market state and caused the public request for systemic structural reforms. In the process of such reforms, the social structure has undergone significant changes. The problem of social inequality has intensified, the middle class has been subjected to splitting, and a significant social segment has been formed (precariat) with unstable employment and shaky socio-economic prospects. Until now, the trend of social stratification has not been overcome. The regularities of the normal reproduction of the medium social strata, which cover the majority of the population, in the conditions of the information economy remain insufficiently studied. For Ukraine, the understanding of the global trends in the modification of the social structure is of particular importance: the market transformation of the national economy did not lead to the establishment of the Institute of corporate social responsibility and the strengthening of the middle class position. Consequently, raising the general welfare of the population remains on the agenda. In the context of overcoming the deep socio-economic contradictions, the initiative of the national scientific school, related to the identification of the newest middle class as a medium class, which is formed in accordance with the logic of the formation of the information network economy, is relevant. This class is characterized by a stable social and economic situation in society and is able to expand its boundaries (reaching the majority of the population) even in the context of a general increase in inequality.

143-149

Authors: Bondar T. V., Dmytruk D. A.

Authors present the results of a nationwide survey of Ukrainian’s population: trends of public opinion regarding the financial status, the situation in the country as a whole, plans and sentiments on the New Year celebration.