Lived Experience Representation of the Divorced Women Children in the Process of Their Mothers' Potential Re-wedding: Qualitative Study in a Cultural Context

Abolfazl Hatami Varzaneh ¹ ( Assistance Professor, Department of Counseling and Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Hazrat-e Masoumeh University, Qom, Iran )
Zahra Imani ² ( M.A. Graduated in Family Counseling, Department of Counseling and Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran )

Submited date : 2025-06-12 Accepted date : 2025-08-07

Keywords: Lived experience, Children of divorce, Mother re-wedding,

Abstract :

The present study object was the lived experience representation of the divorced women children in the process of their mothers' potential re-wedding in the cultural context. The research statistical population included adolescents aged 12 to 18 residing in the city of Qom, whose parents had been divorced for at least one year. The sample embraced 14 adolescent participants whom were selected through purposive sampling procedure till achieving theoretic saturation. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis method based on Braun and Clarke’s (2006) model. The data were collected via semi-structured interview and analyzed by thematic and then analyzed using the stages of thematic analysis. The data analysis led to the extraction of eight main themes, which were as follows: internalization of negative stereotypes about stepfathers; resistance to changing family roles and structure; emotional and moral conflicts in facing the mother’s re-wedding; deep fear of helplessness and vulnerability in the new family; feelings of loneliness, identity loss, and rejection; desire to return to the original family; need for affection, security, and active parental presence. In general, the results indicated that children of divorced women were not only directly affected by the possibility of their mothers remarrying, but also, as emotional and social analysts, showed multi-layered reactions to such complex transformation and their attitudes were influenced by cultural stereotypes, deep existential fears, and the need for affection and emotional security. These reactions ranged from negative internalization of the stepfather and feelings of rejection, to conditional hope that the situations would improve if the mother had healthy and supportive marriage.

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