Parenting Styles in Polish and Ukrainian Families in the Context of Migration Related to the War in Ukraine

ABSTRACT The war in Ukraine has forced millions of people to leave the country in search of a safe haven. More than one and a half million of them have emigrated to Poland, a neighbouring country. Staying in a foreign country involves many problems for refugees, stemming not only from the daily concern of meeting basic needs but also from cultural differences. One of the problems they face in their place of temporary residence may be a misunderstanding of their value system, the way they function in the family or the way they raise their children. The purpose of the research was to learn about the differences in the parenting styles of Polish and Ukrainian parents. We believe that learning about these differences will contribute to a better understanding of the situation of Ukrainian families living in Poland and will help in organizing support in accordance with their needs and values. The study involved 100 people—Polish and Ukrainian parents. The results indicate that there are noticeable differences in parenting styles. These differences were outlined within three parenting styles: democratic, autocratic and liberal unloving. The article concludes with conclusions relevant to social work with refugee children in Poland.