Voices Amidst Active Warfare: Gaining Insights from Ukrainian Children Impacted by War via Chat Data

• In Event: Victimology Working Group Panel 1 Consequences of Victimization

Abstract

During times of warfare or military violence, children are especially vulnerable. Living in areas affected by conflict poses various challenges that can have long-lasting effects on their development, mental health, and overall well-being. Our study delves into the discourse surrounding the theme of war within Ukrainian children's anonymous chat conversations on the Let’s Chat platform, a support service catering to Ukrainian-speaking children aged 7-17, provided by SOS Children’s Villages Finland. We examined 201 anonymous conversations between children and chat workers, aiming to unravel the nuanced ways in which war manifests itself in the narratives of children.

Using a thematic analysis approach, we identified various themes where war interweaves with the children's experiences and narratives. While a previous study by Peltonen et al. (2024) found that only 5% of Let’s Chat’s conversations focused on the topic war, our research reveals a more pervasive influence. Approximately a quarter of the conversations, despite not being explicitly war-related, demonstrate the omnipresent impact of war in the children's narratives, highlighting the subtle yet profound ways in which the current conflict affects their lives.

This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the subtle undercurrents of war in the lives of Ukrainian children. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing these indirect effects conflicts have in the lives of developing young citizens.

Authors

• Laura Mielityinen, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University

• Venla Iina Josefiina Hakala, Tampere University

• Taina Laajasalo, Finnish Institute for Health and Wellfare

• Kirsi Peltonen, University of Turku

• Elina Stenvall, SOS Children's Villages Finland

• Noora Ellonen, Research director