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Changes and Challenges: Parenting Challenges in Iranian Mothers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2020

Davoud Hajkhodadadi ,
Ozra Etemadi Open the ORCID record for Ozra Etemadi [Opens in a new window] ,
Mohammad Reza Abedi  and
Rezvanossadat Jazayeri
Davoud Hajkhodadadi
Affiliation:
Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Ozra Etemadi*
Affiliation:
Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Mohammad Reza Abedi
Affiliation:
Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Rezvanossadat Jazayeri
Affiliation:
Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
*
Address for correspondence: Ozra Etemadi, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Iran. Email: o.etemadi@edu.ui.ac.ir; ozra.etemadi1212@gmail.com
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Abstract

Having adolescents affect many aspects of the parent's lives. The aim of this study was to investigate the parenting challenges within the cultural background of Iranian mothers. The participants consisted of 24 mothers who were selected using a purposive sampling method. Semistructured interviews were recorded and transcribed for further analysis. To analyse the data, a thematic analysis was carried out. The analysis of the data shows that for Iranian mothers, parenting challenges are categorised into seven themes: (a) Sense of diminished power and control, (b) Sense of inadequacy, (c) Lack of father's participation, (d) New situation, coping and resolve, (e) Altered relationships issues, (f) Unfulfilled expectations, and (g) Environmental threats. Based on the findings of our study, parenting challenges are culture-bound and controversial, and dealing with them requires parental training.

Keywords

challengesadolescentparentingqualitative studyIranian mothers
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 11 , 2020 , e16
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. published by Cambridge University Press

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