Tracking ambivalence in family definitions at different stages of the family life cycle

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cris.lastimport.scopus2025-08-30T03:14:56Z
dc.abstract.enThe article investigates how definitions of family differ at subsequent stages of the family life cycle (FLC) in Poland, where multiple framings of family collide. Highlighting temporal changes in ambivalence, we discern how certain stages of family life shape the main elements of family definitions at an individual level. Three distinct, temporally embedded, stages of becoming and being a parent are analysed in relation to ambivalence on the basis of data originating from two qualitative research projects conducted in Poland. These featured in-depth interviews (n = 112) with individuals at these three stages of family life. We show that (1) ambivalence is a feature of family definitions when awaiting first-time parenthood; (2) it decreases for those parenting young children; and (3) becomes even more uncommon for those at the empty nest stage of family life. While the analysis reveals weakening ambivalence in family definitions, it also points to tensions between ‘doing family’ (family practices) and ‘being family’ (institutional perspective) as definitional approaches that sociologically reflect how people in Poland frame family. We posit that the concept of sociological ambivalence can be employed conceptually to understand the meanings of family at distinct stages of people’s parenting lives.
dc.affiliationInstytut Nauk Społecznych
dc.affiliationWydział Nauk Społecznych w Warszawie
dc.contributor.authorPustułka, Paulina
dc.contributor.authorSikorska, Małgorzata
dc.date.access2025-05-16
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-20T09:49:12Z
dc.date.available2025-05-20T09:49:12Z
dc.date.created2025-05-10
dc.date.issued2025-05-16
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.grantnumber2017/26/D/HS6/00605
dc.description.grantnumber2014/15/B/HS6/03755
dc.description.granttitleTranzycja do macierzyństwa w trzech pokoleniach Polek. Międzygeneracyjne badanie podłużne
dc.description.granttitleDeprywacja kontroli, a stosunki (między)grupowe i poznanie polityczne
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/13229400.2025.2506125
dc.identifier.eissn1839-3543
dc.identifier.issn1322-9400
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/1474
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13229400.2025.2506125?src=exp-la
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationnauki socjologiczne
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOTHER
dc.subject.enFamily definitions
dc.subject.ensociological ambivalence
dc.subject.enfamily life cycle (FLC)
dc.subject.enparenting
dc.subject.endoing family
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titleTracking ambivalence in family definitions at different stages of the family life cycle
dc.title.journalJournal of Family Studies
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle