A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Ties that help carry on: family and school friendships in supporting Ukrainian refugees
Authors: Palonen, Tuire; Horlenko, Kateryna; Nuga, Mari
Publisher: Routledge
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research
ISSN: 0031-3831
eISSN: 1470-1170
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2026.2623291
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00313831.2026.2623291
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/515909300
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
This study examines the social networks of Ukrainian refugee families in Finland, Estonia, and Lithuania approximately two years after the commencement of the Russian invasion. Using egocentric social network analysis (SNA) and semi-structured interviews, it explores how family and school-based connections facilitate integration and everyday support. The findings reveal that families maintained stronger ties with other Ukrainians, both locally and transnationally, than with members of host communities. Language barriers, adjusting to different school systems, and the “double school” phenomenon shaped children’s and families’ experiences of belonging, while the erosion of previous ties added to social vulnerability. The study shows that schools play a vital role not only in education but also in rebuilding stability, adding to trust, and social participation. However, pedagogical efforts alone are insufficient; strengthening the social and relational dimensions of schooling is crucial to support refugee families’ integration in their host societies.
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Funding information in the publication:
This study was funded by NordForsk project Influx of migrants following Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Integration and Governance Dynamics in Nordic and Baltic States, project number 161678 (INFLUX) https://www.nordforsk.org/projects/influx-migrants-following-russias-invasion-ukraine-integration-and-governance-dynamics.