Janta, Barbara (2020) Impact of family formation on Polish migrants’ settlement in the United Kingdom. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The magnitude of Polish post-2004 migration to the United Kingdom has had a major impact on British and Polish societies. Arriving as predominantly young, single and without minor dependants, Polish migrants started forming partnerships and having children in Britain. However, uncertainty remains about the permanence of Polish migrant parents’ stay in the UK, and the specific needs of this community. This thesis contributes to filling this gap in the research literature by investigating the migration and family formation patterns among Polish migrants, and the relationship between the two. This area of research has not yet been a major focus for researchers studying Polish migration.

In terms of methodology, a mixed methods approach is adopted which includes analyses of secondary administrative data and new primary data collected through an online survey of, and interviews with, Polish migrants living in the UK. The timeframe of this project covers the years since Poland’s accession to the EU in 2004 until early 2016.

Applying theories related to migration and migrant fertility, the research evidence reveals a distinctive family formation behaviour among Polish migrants. The financial stability and ability to live a ‘normal’ life experienced by Polish migrant families have independently facilitated family formation and settlement, and these trends started reinforcing each other over time. The presence of children anchors Polish migrants in the UK through their education and enhanced sense of belonging. This, together with the intentional indecisiveness and the perceived and actual difficulties in transferring British labour market experience and skills into the Polish context, decreases the return potential of Polish migrant families. This finding has important implications for the demographic and labour market trends in Poland and the UK. It also indicates challenges for policy planning and the implementation of public services, and the importance of future research evidence to guide it.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Polish people -- Great Britain -- Attitudes, Immigrants -- Great Britain -- Attitudes, Poland -- Emigration and immigration -- Social aspects, Great Britain -- Emigration and immigration -- Social aspects, Families -- Great Britain
Official Date:	October 2020
Dates:	Date Event October 2020 UNSPECIFIED
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Institute for Employment Research
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Lindley, Robert M. ; Owen, David, 1954-
Sponsors:	University of Warwick. Institute for Employment Research
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	349 leaves : illustrations
Language:	eng

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