Research Article

The School Adjustment Process of Preschool Children Displaced by Earthquake: A Phenomenological Study

Number: 28 July 31, 2025
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The School Adjustment Process of Preschool Children Displaced by Earthquake: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

This study explores the school adjustment experiences of children displaced by an earthquake, focusing on their perceptions of peer relationships, teacher interactions, and the broader educational environment. The study was conducted using a phenomenological research design. A study group of 10 children aged between 60 and 72 months was formed on February 6, 2023, after the earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 centered in Kahramanmaraş. Participants were selected using criterion sampling, a type of purposeful sampling that ensures the inclusion of individuals meeting the predetermined criteria. Data were collected using qualitative techniques, including structured observations, semi-structured interviews, and analysis of children's drawings. The findings indicated that earthquake-related trauma had a significant negative impact on school adjustment. Factors such as peer interactions, the structure and content of the school curriculum, and its implementation played a crucial role in adjustment. Furthermore, teacher attitudes and behaviors influence children's peer relationships, emotional well-being, and classroom experiences. The results, analyzed from psychological and developmental perspectives, provide recommendations for future research and interventions supporting disaster-affected children in educational settings.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval was obtained from Akdeniz University Social and Human Sciences Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee with decision number 326 on 10.07.2024.

References

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  6. Chan, W. L. (2012) Expectations for the transition from kindergarten to primary school amongst teachers, parents and children. Early Child Development and Care, 182 (5), 639-664.
  7. Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. Sage Publications.
  8. Cook, K. D., Dearing, E., & Zachrisson, H. D. (2017). Information sharing between teachers and early education programs during school entry in Norway: Associations with children’s school adjustment and success in the first year. International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy, 11(1), 1-20.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Early Childhood Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 31, 2025

Submission Date

January 25, 2025

Acceptance Date

March 19, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Number: 28

APA
Yüksel, B., Bayat, N., & Özkara, Y. (2025). The School Adjustment Process of Preschool Children Displaced by Earthquake: A Phenomenological Study. Journal of Education and Future, 28, 69-82. https://doi.org/10.30786/jef.1627059
AMA
1.Yüksel B, Bayat N, Özkara Y. The School Adjustment Process of Preschool Children Displaced by Earthquake: A Phenomenological Study. JEF. 2025;(28):69-82. doi:10.30786/jef.1627059
Chicago
Yüksel, Begümhan, Nihat Bayat, and Yasin Özkara. 2025. “The School Adjustment Process of Preschool Children Displaced by Earthquake: A Phenomenological Study”. Journal of Education and Future, nos. 28: 69-82. https://doi.org/10.30786/jef.1627059.
EndNote
Yüksel B, Bayat N, Özkara Y (July 1, 2025) The School Adjustment Process of Preschool Children Displaced by Earthquake: A Phenomenological Study. Journal of Education and Future 28 69–82.
IEEE
[1]B. Yüksel, N. Bayat, and Y. Özkara, “The School Adjustment Process of Preschool Children Displaced by Earthquake: A Phenomenological Study”, JEF, no. 28, pp. 69–82, July 2025, doi: 10.30786/jef.1627059.
ISNAD
Yüksel, Begümhan - Bayat, Nihat - Özkara, Yasin. “The School Adjustment Process of Preschool Children Displaced by Earthquake: A Phenomenological Study”. Journal of Education and Future. 28 (July 1, 2025): 69-82. https://doi.org/10.30786/jef.1627059.
JAMA
1.Yüksel B, Bayat N, Özkara Y. The School Adjustment Process of Preschool Children Displaced by Earthquake: A Phenomenological Study. JEF. 2025;:69–82.
MLA
Yüksel, Begümhan, et al. “The School Adjustment Process of Preschool Children Displaced by Earthquake: A Phenomenological Study”. Journal of Education and Future, no. 28, July 2025, pp. 69-82, doi:10.30786/jef.1627059.
Vancouver
1.Begümhan Yüksel, Nihat Bayat, Yasin Özkara. The School Adjustment Process of Preschool Children Displaced by Earthquake: A Phenomenological Study. JEF. 2025 Jul. 1;(28):69-82. doi:10.30786/jef.1627059

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