Counseling and psychotherapy culture

Post-Divorce Co-Parenting Pathway: A Qualitative Exploration of Custodial Mothers’ Experiences

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Esmaeil Barzegar 1
Ozra Etemadi 2
Faramarz Asanjarani 3

1 Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology and Education, Arak University, Arak, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22054/qccpc.2026.89841.3564
Abstract
The transition to co-parenting after divorce for custodial mothers is often accompanied by fundamental changes in roles, expectations, and relationships-changes that have been insufficiently explored in depth. The purpose of this research is identify and analyze the experiences of custodial mothers in the pathway of post-divorce co-parenting, using a qualitative phenomenological approach. In this study, twelve custodial mothers were selected using purposive sampling. The Data obtained from semi-structured interviews were analyzed based on Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. The findings of the current research are “redefining the role and identity of parenthood, living amid ambiguity and tension, co-parenting amidst discord, the child at the heart of co-parental conflict and motherhood in the midst of society”. The results of the present study showed that mothers in co-parenting after divorce face multifaceted challenges; some of these challenges are intrapersonal, while others are interpersonal, and they are exacerbated by cultural and social pressures. Accordingly, supportive interventions should simultaneously focus on redefining maternal identity, clarifying parental boundaries, and facilitating social support.

Keywords

Divorce
Co-Parenting Challenges
Custodial Mothers
Qualitative Study
Subjects
Counseling and psychotherapy culture

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 09 November 2026

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