“I Won’t Be the Same”: A Narrative Inquiry of Chinese Mother-Daughter Conflict Resolutions

Objective: This study illuminated the mother -daughter conflict resolution in a special single-mother household, by interpreting the participants’ narratives. Background: Single mother-daughter dyads in many studies were seldom explored through specific, personal narratives. The results of these studies cannot explain the specific family conflicts that occur in certain households. This study focuses on a specific single mother-daughter relationship in order to identify effective strategies for resolving family conflicts. The mother was a single mother who was forced to divorce twenty years ago and suffered from major depressive disorder (MDD). The daughter, who had experienced single-motherhood for seven years, underwent a transformed life. There were more family conflicts in this single-mother-daughter household compared with present reported cases. Method: Exploring the phenomenon and participants’ experiences with the utilization of narrative inquiry methodology, I analyzed the single-mother-daughter conflict resolution. Results: Conflicts in single-mother-daughter households are often driven by differences in attitudes towards marriage, parenting styles, and social skills between the mother and daughter, which can be attributed to various factors such as cultural norms, socialization processes, and personal experiences. Conclusion: The positive family dynamics in single-mother households include a combination of behavioral discipline, deep understanding, and forgiveness. Implications: These results can provide community workers with the practical guidance to help single-mother households to have their psychological well-being and positive family dynamics.