Educational Transitions of Ukrainian Refugee Adolescents in Poland: Co‐Agency in Transnational Families

StatusVoR
Simple item page
dc.abstract.enObjective To examine how transnational family life and parent–child co-agency shape educational decisions among Ukrainian refugee children in Poland. Background Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Ukrainian families have relocated to Poland, where children navigate educational transitions amid legal, emotional, and educational uncertainty. Little is known about how these decisions are negotiated within transnational families whose members may remain dispersed across borders. Methods This qualitative study draws on interviews with 40 refugee children in the final grades of Polish primary school and 40 parents, conducted as part of the EduMAP research project. Results Parent–child co-agency was dynamic and often asymmetrical, which is shown within two aspects: gendered parental asymmetry and parent–child asymmetry. Conclusions Educational transitions emerged as negotiated processes of agency and co-agency within transnational family networks, rather than exclusively parental or child-led decisions. Implications Schools should support refugee children and parents by providing guidance on recruitment procedures and school options. Family-oriented support may strengthen children's participation while reducing excessive responsibility and helping mitigate educational inequalities.
dc.affiliationINS
dc.contributor.authorAnzhela Popyk
dc.date.access2026-10-11
dc.date.accessioned2026-10-27T12:05:31Z
dc.date.available2026-10-27T12:05:31Z
dc.date.created2026-09-24
dc.date.issued2026-10-11
dc.description.abstract<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Objective</jats:title> <jats:p>To examine how transnational family life and parent–child co‐agency shape educational decisions among Ukrainian refugee children in Poland.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Background</jats:title> <jats:p>Since Russia's full‐scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Ukrainian families have relocated to Poland, where children navigate educational transitions amid legal, emotional, and educational uncertainty. Little is known about how these decisions are negotiated within transnational families whose members may remain dispersed across borders.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>This qualitative study draws on interviews with 40 refugee children in the final grades of Polish primary school and 40 parents, conducted as part of the EduMAP research project.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Parent–child co‐agency was dynamic and often asymmetrical, which is shown within two aspects: gendered parental asymmetry and parent–child asymmetry.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>Educational transitions emerged as negotiated processes of agency and co‐agency within transnational family networks, rather than exclusively parental or child‐led decisions.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Implications</jats:title> <jats:p>Schools should support refugee children and parents by providing guidance on recruitment procedures and school options. Family‐oriented support may strengthen children's participation while reducing excessive responsibility and helping mitigate educational inequalities.</jats:p> </jats:sec>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.grantnumber2023/49/B/HS6/03795
dc.description.granttitleEduMAP: Transnational and School Transitions of Ukrainian Forced Migrant Adolescents in Poland
dc.description.sdgQualityEducation
dc.description.sdgReducedInequalities
dc.description.sdgPeaceJusticeAndStrongInstitutions
dc.description.sdgGoodHealthAndWellBeing
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/fare.70373
dc.identifier.eissn1741-3729
dc.identifier.issn0197-6664
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2692
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/fare.70373
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationnauki socjologiczne
dc.rightsCC-BY-NC-ND
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOTHER
dc.subject.enco-agency
dc.subject.eneducational pathways
dc.subject.enPoland
dc.subject.enschool transition
dc.subject.entransnational families
dc.subject.enUkrainian refugee children
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titleEducational Transitions of Ukrainian Refugee Adolescents in Poland: Co‐Agency in Transnational Families
dc.title.journalFamily Relations
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle