Resilience and Reconstruction: What Now?
Psychology Today
by Mira Antonyan Ph.D.February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The psychological and social challenges faced by displaced populations, particularly Armenia's integration of over 115,000 individuals from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), highlight the complex dynamics of long-term recovery and resilience. Unlike the immediate relief efforts that follow displacement, the true test lies in fostering environments where displaced individuals can thrive despite losing their homes and communities. The study emphasizes that resilience is not a personal trait or a终点 but a process shaped by community, relationships, institutions, and cultural identity. By reframing resilience through Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems framework, researchers focus on creating conditions at systemic levels—such as stable housing, access to resources, and social support—that enable individuals to rebuild their lives.
The qualitative research, which included focus groups with displaced Artsakh Armenians and host-community members, reveals that the lack of alignment between housing programs and actual needs significantly hinders recovery. Uncertainty about housing acquisition often leads to psychological distress and delays in adapting to new environments. Many small families feel rejected by eligibility criteria, exacerbating feelings of marginalization. This misalignment not only prolongs instability but also contributes to secondary traumatization, making it harder for individuals to move forward.
At the individual level, resilience emerges as a return to internal order and purpose rather than emotional closure or grief resolution. Participants shared how finding similarities between their new communities and Artsakh helped them feel grounded and hopeful about the future. This aligns with Antonovsky’s concept of salutogenesis, where meaning-making and coherence are key to coping with trauma. By fostering environments that honor past memories while providing tools for growth, displaced populations can rebuild their lives with a sense of agency and continuity.
For health professionals and policymakers, understanding resilience as a collective process is crucial in designing effective support systems. The study underscores the importance of addressing systemic
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Originally published on Psychology Today on 2/20/2026