The marital and mothering psychological process of divorced nonresidential mothers - A narrative research

• Main Authors: Chi-pei Lin, 林之珮
• Other Authors: Hsiu-Lan Tien
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/93341576446078071676

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 教育心理與輔導學系 === 96 === The purpose of the study was to understand the psychological process of mariage and mothering of divorced mothers. The research process emphasized the postmodern psychological perspective. Participants were four women who divorced and chose to separate from their children. The narrative interview data were analyzed by holistic-content method. The results showed that women brought issues from their original families into their marriage. It was not until they encountered frustrations in their patriarch marriage that they started to become aware of the issues of their past and re-identify internal needs to finally chose to divorce and separate from their children. The key to the process was that women were able to accept their needs and develop will-power getting beyond their original life stories. The reasons for women to choose not live with their children after divorce included: the power struggle to divorce agreement, considerations of self emotional conditions, lack of resources to take care of the children, resentment toward ex-husband, and considerations of ethics. The issues faced during the process of visitation included feelings of guilt, finding the balance between compensation and responding to the actual needs of the children, facing the emotional detachment and unforgiving attitude of the children, putting children into the position of triangular relationship with ex-husband, taking children’s feelings of sorrow and grief, helplessly worrying about children’s adjustment, struggling to balance relationship between children and their intimate partner. Because of breaking away from the bondages of mainstream values, these women have a more equal and real connection with children. At the same time, develop powerful identity of their mothering belief and practice. Finally, the mutual construction of mothering and marriage experiences were as follows: the will to be responsible for children, encouragement for women to endure and face marriage diversion. Frustrations in marriage make them think about and reflect on their motherhood. At the same time, the new life attitude that has been shaped out of marriage has added new elements into mothering. According to the results of this study, the women not living with their children after the divorce were more capable to construct a life story of self-identity and self-realization if they were aware of the meanings behind their decisions, faced the contradictory condition, and sought changes. According to the important findings of this study, suggestions on the counseling and educational issues of the divorced women who live separately from their children were proposed.