“When home is gone”: Challenges faced by families evacuated from war zones—a qualitative study

ABSTRACT Objective This qualitative study examined how forced evacuation during a national crisis disrupts parenting among families with adolescents. Background Parenting under displacement creates unique challenges, especially when caregivers face trauma, fear, and uncertainty. Guided by the theory of emotional availability, the study highlights how evacuation strains parents' ability to remain emotionally present and supportive. Methods The study included 18 parents (12 mothers, six fathers) of 38 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years who were evacuated during a large‐scale emergency. Semistructured interviews were thematically analyzed. Parents represented diverse family contexts, offering perspectives from both mothers and fathers. Results Evacuation triggered fear, helplessness, and emotional disorientation. Some parents described dissociation, while others adopted practical strategies to protect and comfort their children. Maintaining parental functioning in temporary housing was difficult due to lack of privacy, strained family dynamics, and uncertainty. Adolescents showed stress reactions, withdrawal, anxiety, and regression that further taxed parents' resources. School experiences varied: Some families faced disruption, while others emphasized the stabilizing role of supportive educators. Conclusion Evacuation undermines parental emotional availability and boundary‐setting during crisis. Implications The findings underscore the need for coordinated psychosocial, educational, and emergency support systems to meet the complex needs of displaced families and adolescents.