Compassion, Volunteering, and Charitable Giving in Wartime Ukraine: A Gender Analysis

Abstract

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created suffering and destruction, but also catalyzed displays of compassion among civilians. In 2023, Ukraine was reported to have a record high annual growth in charitable activities and was ranked second globally according to the World Giving Index. This study focuses on the gender differences in compassion for those affected by war and the association between compassion, volunteering, and charitable giving in Ukraine after the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War. The study used a cross-sectional design and employed an online survey method, conducted between September and October 2023. A total of 170 respondents took part in the study; the age range was 18 to 69 years, and the majority were female (72.9%). Participants completed measures of volunteering, charitable giving, compassion for war-affected individuals, and the standardized compassion for others (SCBCS) questionnaire. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlations, and Mann–Whitney U tests. Women reported higher levels of compassion for others (p = .002, r_s = –.24) and for those who were affected by war than men (p = .008, r_s = –.20). No significant gender differences were found between those who participated in volunteering activities and charitable giving. Among those who volunteered, both women (Md = 5) and men (Md = 5) reported a similar amount of monthly volunteering time (p = .673). Compassion for others but not compassion for war-affected individuals was significantly associated with the amount of volunteering hours (r_s = .23). The findings suggest that despite the differences in compassion levels between genders in wartime Ukraine, both men and women display similar involvement in volunteering activities and charitable giving. Compassion for others may play an important role in civic engagement.