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

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.