A Study on Experiences of Single-Parent Children in the Current Indian Context

Abstract

The present paper explores and investigatessome of the lived experiences and socialperceptions of young adults living in single-parent family structures in the existing Indiansituation. The sample consisted of 11 college-going young adultsresidingin Delhi-NCR withtheirsingle motherssince the early years of their lives. A qualitative research method wasadopted in which data collection was done using semi-structured interviews followed byThematic Analysis. The results indicate that participants as single-parent children have hadmixed experiences where some individual experiences were challenging at the same timeother experiences led to positive changes and self-growth during their lives. Atotal of six significant themes have been extracted as essential findings that highlight variedexperiences being a part of a single-parent family in the Indian context.Themes extractedfromthe dataare-AcceptanceofResponsibilities,CarefulDecisionMaking,a SenseofBelongingness;PerceivedSocialResponse;EmotionalReaction;andInvokingResilience.The emerged themes capture negative experiences and positive outcomesperceivedin single-parent children.