Transition into foster mothering

Abstract

The present study aims to explore the process of foster mothers’ transition into foster motherhood in Turkey as a qualitative study adopted a grounded theory approach. The data was gathered through 14 semi-structured interviews conducted with 6 single and 8 married foster mothers from İstanbul, Denizli, and Mersin; focused on the decision process of being a foster mother, their representations of their foster child, and their relationship with them through the process, their experiences with the foster parenting role, and their future projections. Results revealed six main phases that constitute the transition process: making the decision, waiting-preparation, meeting, struggling, coping, and adaptation. Experiences of foster mothers through these phases appeared to have commonalities and differences with the transition process of biological and adoptive mothers. Findings pointed out the lack of paternal involvement through the process, the discrepancy between the structurally imposed foster carer role and participants’ identification with the mothering role, and the need for psychological preparedness before becoming a foster mother.