Single-Parent Adolescents' Perceptions of Future Marriage and Family Expectations: A Qualitative Inquiry

Year 2025, Issue: Aile Özel Sayısı, 307 - 323, 30.09.2025

Merve Şahbaz Demet Akarçay Ulutaş

https://doi.org/10.33709/ictimaiyat.1568877

Abstract

In recent years, as in many other countries, the number of single-parent families has been rapidly increasing in our country as well. Along with this increase, there is a growing need for qualitative research to understand better single-parent families and adolescents living in single-parent family environments. This study focuses on single-parent adolescents' priorities in emotional relationships and partner choices in family formation processes. The study was designed using qualitative research procedures and conducted with 15 single-parent adolescents. The data obtained through semi-structured interview forms were analyzed following qualitative data analysis. The first salient finding is that communication, trust, problem-solving skills, and anger management are essential for single-parent adolescents looking for a future spouse for a happy and long-lasting marriage. Second, single-parent adolescents value a peaceful and loving family environment for their prospective partners and seek similarities in finding meaning in life and sharing principles. Finally, the findings on coping with feelings of jealousy emphasize the importance of healthy communication channels. By providing essential perspectives on marriage and family structures from the perspectives of single-parent adolescents, this study may help professionals provide more practical guidance on these issues.

Keywords

Single-parent family , Adolescence , Partner selection , Family expectations , Perception of marriage

Ethical Statement

As stated in the full text file, this study was produced from the master's thesis of the first author and was approved by the KTO Karatay University Human Research Ethics Committee on 02.01.2023.

Tek Ebeveynli Ergenlerin Gelecek Evlilik ve Aile Beklentilerine Yönelik Algıları: Nitel Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Son yıllarda birçok ülkede olduğu gibi ülkemizde de tek ebeveynli ailelerin sayısı hızlı bir şekilde artış göstermektedir. Bu artışla beraber tek ebeveynli aileleri ve tek ebeveynli aile ortamında yaşayan ergen bireyleri anlamak için niteliksel araştırmalara gerek duyulmaktadır. Bu çalışma, tek ebeveynli ergenlerin aile kurma süreçlerindeki duygusal ilişkilerde ve eş seçimindeki önceliklerine odaklanmaktadır. Çalışma, nitel araştırma yöntemleri kullanılarak tasarlanmış ve 15 tek ebeveynli ergenle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme formlarıyla elde edilen veriler nitel veri analizine göre incelenmiştir. İlk önemli bulgu, iletişim, güven, problem çözme becerileri ve öfke kontrolünün, tek ebeveynli ergenlerin mutlu ve uzun süreli bir evlilik için aradıkları eş özellikleri arasında yer aldığıdır. İkinci olarak, tek ebeveynli ergenler, müstakbel eşlerinde huzurlu ve sevgi dolu bir aile ortamına değer vermekte ve hayata anlam katma ile ilke paylaşımında benzerlik aramaktadırlar. Son olarak, kıskançlık duygusuyla başa çıkma konusunda sağlıklı iletişim kanallarının önemine dikkat çekilmektedir. Bu çalışma, tek ebeveynli ergenlerin evlilik ve aile yapıları hakkındaki bakış açılarına dair önemli perspektifler sunarak, profesyonellerin bu konularda daha pratik rehberlik sunmalarına katkı sağlayabilecektir.

Keywords

Tek ebeveynli aile , Ergenlik , Eş seçimi , Aile beklentileri , Evlilik algısı

Ethical Statement

Tam metin dosyasında da belirtildiği üzere, bu çalışma birinci yazarın yüksek lisans tez çalışmasından üretilmiş ve KTO Karatay Üniversitesi İnsan Araştırmaları Etik Kurulu tarafından 02.01.2023 tarihinde onaylanmıştır.

References

• Ahrari, A.,Miri, M. R., Ramezani, A. A., Dastjerdi, R., Hosseini, T. (2020). Efficacy of communication skills training in marital disturbance. Journal of Research and Health, 10(6), 351-358. http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/JRH.10.6. 1547.2
• Amato, P. R. (1993). Children's adjustment to divorce: Theories, hypotheses, and empirical support. Journal of Marriage and Family, 55(1), 23-38. https://doi.org/10.2307/352954
• Baron, J., Salvador, M., Loewy, R. (2019). Experience of associative stigma in parents of adolescents at risk for psychosis. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 13(4), 761-766. https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.12555
• Bronfenbrenner, U. (1994). Ecological models of human development. In International Encyclopedia of Education (Vol. 3, 2nd ed.). Oxford: Elsevier.
• Burlaka, V., Wu, Q., Wu, S., Churakova, I. (2019). Internalizing and externalizing behaviors among Ukrainian children: The role of family communication and maternal coping. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28, 1283-1293. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01377-w
• Canel, A. N. (2011). Evlilik ve aile hayatı. T.C. Aile ve Sosyal Hizmetler Bakanlığı Aile ve Toplum Hizmetleri Genel Müdürlüğü.
• Cecen-Erogul, A. R., & Dingiltepe, T. (2012). The comparison of adolescents from single parent families and intact families in terms of life satisfaction and quality of life. Ilkogretim Online, 11(4), 1077-1086.
• Cheung, F., Lun, V. M. C., Ngo, H. Y., Fong, E. (2020). Seeking harmony in Chinese families: A dyadic analysis on Chinese parent-child relations. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 23(1), 82-90. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajsp.12393
• Civitci, N., Çivitçi, A., Fiyakalı, N. C. (2009). Loneliness and life satisfaction in adolescents with divorced and non-divorced parents. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 9(2), 513-525.
• Coleman, H., Kozachuk, L., McDermid, C., Duyile, B., Mason, H., Alberque, K., Özdemir, M. (2023). “I’ve grown”: Parent’s reflections and familial support. Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science, 72, 2908-2926. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12842
• Couture, S., Fernet, M., Cote, P. B. (2020). Interaction patterns in adolescent romantic relationships: A typological analysis. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 30(3), 706-720. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12553
• Couture, S., Fernet, M., Hebert, M. (2021). A cluster analysis of dynamics in adolescent romantic relationships. Journal of Adolescence, 89, 203-212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.04.012
• Creswell, J. W. (2020). Nitel araştırma yöntemleri: Beş yaklaşıma göre nitel araştırma ve araştırma deseni. Siyasal Kitabevi.
• Demirbilek, M., & Otrar, M. (2014). The examination of the assertiveness levels and self-respect of adolescents with single parent and whole family. International Online Journal of Educational Sciences, 6(1), 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.15345/iojes.2014.01.001
• Du Plooy, K., & De Beer, R. (2018). Effective interactions: Communication and high levels of marital satisfaction. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 28(2), 161-167. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2018.1435041
• Garnefski, N., & Diekstra, R. F. (1997). Adolescents from one parent, stepparent, and intact families: Emotional problems and suicide attempts. Journal of Adolescence, 20(2), 201-208. https://doi.org/10.1006/jado.1996.0077
• Gath, M. E. (2022). Parents and adolescents in stepfamilies: Longitudinal links to physical health, psychological distress, and stress. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 31(1), 17-28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02078-z
• Gómez-López, M., Viejo, C., Ortega-Ruiz, R. (2019). Psychological well-being during adolescence: Stability and association with romantic relationships. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01772
• Harding, J. (2019). Qualitative data analysis: From start to finish. Sage Publications.
• Hasanah, E., Zamroni, E., Dardiri, A., Supardi, S. (2019). Indonesian adolescents' experience of parenting processes that positively impacted youth identity. The Qualitative Report, 24(3), 499-512.
• Heshmati, S., Blackard, B., Beckmann, B., Chipidza, W. (2021). Family relationships and adolescent loneliness: An application of social network analysis in family studies. Journal of Family Psychology, 35(2), 182-191. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000660
• Holmbeck, G. N. (2018). A model of family relational transformations during the transition to adolescence: Parent-adolescent conflict and adaptation. In Transitions through adolescence (pp. 167-199). Psychology Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315789286-7
• Husserl, E. (1999). The essential Husserl: Basic writings in transcendental phenomenology (D. Welton, Ed.). Indiana University Press.
• Jensen, T. M., Lippold, M. A., Mills-Koonce, R., Fosco, G. M. (2018). Stepfamily relationship quality and children's internalizing and externalizing problems. Family Process, 57(2), 477-495. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12284
• Johnco, C., & Ronald, M. R. (2018). Depression literacy and stigma influence how parents perceive and respond to adolescent depressive symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 241, 599-607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.08.062
• Kansky, J., & Joseph, P. A. (2018). Long-term risks and possible benefits associated with late adolescent romantic relationship quality. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47, 1531-1544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0813-x
• Karimi, R., Bakhtiyari, M., Arani, A. M. (2019). Protective factors of marital stability in long-term marriage globally: A systematic review. Epidemiology and Health, 41, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2019023
• Kashina, M., & Tkach, S. (2021). Fatherhood escape as a significant feature of the gender contract of Russian men. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 41(9/10), 1058-1071. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-09-2020-0426
• Kaslow, F., & Julie, A. R. (1996). Long-term satisfying marriages: Perceptions of contributing factors. American Journal of Family Therapy, 24(2), 153-170. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926189608251028
• Kenny, L., Koshin, H., Sulaiman, M., Cislaghi, B. (2019). Adolescent-led marriage in Somaliland and Puntland: A surprising interaction of agency and social norms. Journal of Adolescence, 72, 101-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adoleascence.2019.02.009
• Kroese, J., Bernasco, W., Liefbroer, A. C., Rouwendal, J. (2021). Growing up in single-parent families and the criminal involvement of adolescents: A systematic review. Psychology, Crime & Law, 27(1), 61-75. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2020.1774589
• Larson, R. W., & Gillman, S. (1999). Transmission of emotions in the daily interactions of single-mother families. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 21-37. https://doi.org/10.2307/353880
• Macfie, J., Brumariu, L. E., Lyons-Ruth, K. (2015). Parent-child role-confusion: A critical review of an emerging concept. Developmental Review, 36, 34-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2015.01.002
• Maurya, A. K., Parasar, A., Sharma, A. (2015). The effect of single parent and both parents family on emotional and behavioral problems. Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing, 6(12), 1235-1237.
• McDougal, L., Jackson, E. C., McClendon, K. A., Belayneh, Y., Sinha, A., Raj, A. (2018). Beyond the statistic: Exploring the process of early marriage decision-making using qualitative findings from Ethiopia and India. BMC Women's Health, 18(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-0631-z
• Meggiolaro, S., & Ongaro, F. (2014). Family contexts and adolescents' emotional status. Journal of Youth Studies, 17(10), 1306-1329. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2014.918246
• Moore, G. F., Cox, R., Evans, R. E., Hallingberg, B., Hawkins, J., Littlecott, H. J., Long, S. J., Murphy, S. (2018). School, peer and family relationships and adolescent substance use, subjective wellbeing and mental health symptoms in Wales: A cross sectional study. Child Indicators Research, 11, 1951-1965. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-017-9524-1
• Murry, V. M., & Lippold, M. A. (2018). Parenting practices in diverse family structures: Examination of adolescents’ development and adjustment. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 28(3), 650-664. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12390
• Ogolsky, B. G., Monk, J. K., Rice, T. M., Oswald, R. F. (2019). Personal well-being across the transition to marriage equality: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Family Psychology, 33(4), 422-432. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000504
• Phinney, J. S., & Vedder, P. (2022). Family relationship values of adolescents and parents: Intergenerational discrepancies and adaptation. In Immigrant youth in cultural transition (pp. 168-185). Routledge.
• Shosha, G. A. (2012). Employment of Colaizzi’s strategy in descriptive phenomenology: A reflection of a researcher. European Scientific Journal, 8(27), 31-43.
• Simpson, D. M., Leonhardt, N. D., Hawkins, A. J. (2018). Learning about love: A meta-analytic study of individually-oriented relationship education programs for adolescents and emerging adults. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47, 477-489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-017-0725-1
• Smith, J. A., Fieldsend, M. (2012). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, method and research. Sage Publications. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000252-008
• Sundler, A. J., Lindberg, E., Nilsson, C., Palmer, L. (2019). Qualitative thematic analysis based on descriptive phenomenology. Nursing Open, 6, 733-739. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.275
• Tang, W., Wang, G., Hu, T., Dai, Q., Xu, J., Yang, Y., & Xu, J. (2018). Mental health and psychosocial problems among Chinese left-behind children: A cross-sectional comparative study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 241, 133-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.08.017
• Turunen, J. (2013). Family structure, gender, and adolescent emotional well-being. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 54(6), 476-504. https://doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2013.810982
• Van de Bongardt, D., Yu, R., Deković, M., & Meeus, W. (2018). Romantic relationships and sexuality in adolescence and young adulthood: The role of parents, peers, and partners. In D. van de Bongardt, R. Yu, M. Deković, & W. Meeus (Eds.), Romantic relationships and sexuality in adolescence and young adulthood (pp. 13-31). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2015.1068689
• Van Gasse, D., & Mortelmans, D. (2020). With or without you – Starting single-parent families: A qualitative study on how single parents by choice reorganize their lives to facilitate single parenthood from a life course perspective. Journal of Family Issues, 41(11), 2223-2248. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X20929205
• Wirihana, L., Welch, A., Williamson, M., Christensen, M., Bakon, S., & Craft, J. (2018). Using Colaizzi's method of data analysis to explore the experiences of nurse academics teaching on satellite campuses. Nurse Researcher, 25(4), 30-34. https://doi.org/10.7748/nr.2018.e1516
• Xia, M., Fosco, G. M., Lippold, M. A., & Feinberg, M. E. (2018). A developmental perspective on young adult romantic relationships: Examining family and individual factors in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47, 1499-1516. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0834-2
• Zaheri, F., Dolatian, M., Shariati, M., Simbar, M., Ebadi, A., & Hasanpour, M. (2020). The concept and aspects of a successful marriage as stated by successful Iranian couples and experts: A qualitative study. Crescent Journal of Medical & Biological Sciences, 7(2), 159-169.