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Does the decision to leave the country unite or divide migrant families? A study by Polish researchers shows how parents and their adult children jointly build narratives about their lives in Germany—sometimes harmoniously, sometimes with very different emotional tones. The research was conducted as part of the IRIMTA project by Paula Pustułka, Ph.D., a professor at the SWPS University, and Zuzanna Kapciak, a doctoral candidate at the SWPS University Doctoral School.
Migrations from Poland to Germany have a long tradition. Today, over 870,000 people with Polish citizenship and over two million classified as those with a Polish migration background live there. It is the second largest ethnic group in the country. Despite this scale, Polish migrants in Germany remain relatively understudied, particularly in terms of the inner diversification of gendered and generational experiences.
To expand knowledge about generational changes and relations in Polish migrant families in Germany, Kapciak and Pustułka from SWPS University conducted a study and analyzed data on how emigration decisions were made and how young adults raised outside Poland, together with their parents, jointly create and tell their families’ migration stories.
The results, published in the journal Studia Migracyjne—Przegląd Polonijny, shed new light on the intergenerational experiences of migrants and show that stories of leaving the country remain vivid and important in families for decades.
How different generations perceive migration
The researchers interviewed 22 members of Polish families in Germany: parents who left Poland approximately 25 years ago (when they were 20–40 years old) and their adult children aged 18–29. These young people represent 1.5 generation migrants (who came to Germany as children) and second generation migrants (born in Germany).
“Interestingly, parents and their adult children construct their Poland to Germany migration stories quite similarly. Their stories—be it positive or difficult—are consistent and usually refer to the same key events. The stories of young adults from the 1.5 generation, those who moved as children, sometimes reveal elements of a sense of lack of agency. This means that some young people, as children, did not want to leave Poland and tried to protest, but were not heard and had to adapt.
“We identified this as the main difference, because young adults born in Germany do not recall such experiences,” Kapciak says.
“For parents, on the other hand, moving is a choice, albeit with varying motivations and not always considered the right one today, but it is still a perspective demonstrating self-determination and decision-making,” Pustułka adds.
Reasons for migration: Women follow their hearts, men follow the money
An analysis of the interviews revealed clear differences in the motivations for moving depending on gender. Women were much more likely to emphasize emotional factors: following a loved one, reuniting with family, and the duty a wife has towards her husband. Men, on the other hand, focused on the improved economic situation and generally better career prospects. They perceived Germany as a place where they could better fulfill the ‘provider’ role.
Young people in the migration process
One of the most important findings of the study concerns the role of the younger generation in constructing family migration narratives. It turns out that even those born in Germany are quite knowledgeable about their parents’ migration story and actively participate in its telling.
The accounts where both young adults and their interviewed parents consistently evaluate migration negatively are particularly interesting. This is often linked to difficult family situations—relationship breakdowns or integration problems.
What can migrant families do to better cope with adaptation difficulties? Kapciak points out that this while is a very complex issue, in her opinion, the most important thing is for them to seek support. Both professional (psychological, legal, vocational) and social ones, in the form of integration into the new environment, as well as maintaining ties to one’s own culture.
“Anyone who considers migration with their children should remember to prepare children for it before departure, and support them once they arrive. The beginnings are difficult for everyone, and amidst the numerous ongoing matters, it is easy to forget this,” advises Kapciak.
Pustułka points out that the migrating child’s age is extremely important, and adolescence, being a teenager, is not necessarily easy to reconcile with a revolution in the form of a change in educational and peer environments. Migration then becomes a huge biographical challenge, which the young person must then work through later in life. Migration is not always unquestionably easier for younger children, but they are simply easier to support, because parents, not peers, are their pillars and points of reference.
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Migration as a process
The study by researchers from SWPS University shows that migration is not a one-time event, but a process that unfolds over decades and generations. Family stories about moving can connect generations in a shared narrative of a better life, but also perpetuate resentments. This has profound implications for understanding contemporary migration in Europe: it demonstrates that the experience of moving is not just an individual decision, but a family project.
The study also shows that transnational ties do not end with the first or even second generation living abroad. Young people of Polish descent who live in Germany maintain emotional and practical connections with Poland, often viewing their bicultural experience as an asset rather than a burden.
Migrants keep thinking about Poland, even if geographically they are away from the country. Linguistic capital in the form of knowledge of Polish was often cited by young adults of Polish descent in Germany as very helpful in finding their way as they transition into adulthood, also in education and the labor market, the sociologist emphasizes.
What does this mean for Polish migration policy?
The results of the study have practical implications for policies in both Poland and Germany. They show that 1.5 and second generations of Polish migrants can be an important bridge in building transnational relations. Young people often perceive their Polish origins as a resource. The study also suggests the need for a more nuanced approach to migrant integration—one that accounts for the importance of family stories and intergenerational relationships in shaping identity and the sense of belonging.
“Our study illustrates that young adults of Polish descent who grew up in Germany lack a sense that Poland cares for them in any way through migration programs and policies. This is a group of young people with political and economic potential, they should be encouraged to live transnationally, mindful of their identity ties with Poland. Solid diaspora policies, which could be addressed by the individuals in question, could strengthen international relations with our neighbors,” Pustułka points out.
Kapciak, the second co-author of the study, adds, “With our study, we want to show that migration is a part of human life; it is a key point in many life stories. We should allow everyone to shape their paths in the way that suits them, which means that we should not make system-wide decision on who can cross the border and where, but instead leave these decisions it in the hands of people who know what is best for them.”
Pustułka adds that, in addition to building resilience and seeking support, a flexible approach to mobility is crucial: Historically, we’ve viewed migration as either a “forever” decision—for example, in the context of moving to the United States—or a “for a while” one—for example, when the goal was seasonal work.
Migration of entire families should be carefully considered by parents to give their children a sense of stability, but we certainly should not think that we have to remain migrants “at all costs.” If the experience of living abroad is too burdensome for your family, you can return, emigrate elsewhere, or delay your departure until the children grow up, the researcher points out.
More information:
Zuzanna Kapciak et al, Migration Decisions and Paths in Family Stories of Polish Intergenerational Dyads in Germany, Studia Migracyjne—Przegląd Polonijny (2025). DOI: 10.4467/25444972SMPP.25.004.21387
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Shared memories, different emotions: How Polish families talk about their migration to Germany (2025, August 19)
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