Navigating Lone Parenthood Over Time: A Qualitative and Vulnerability Life-Course Approach

Abstract

Despite its increasing diversity, lone parenthood is still largely treated as a homogeneous group, with research often assuming a causal link between this family structure and sociodemographic disadvantages and paying little attention to how lone parents navigate and respond to these challenges over time. Drawing on qualitative longitudinal data from the Swiss panel study Multiple Paths of Lone Parenthood (2012–2022), this article proposes a dynamic and multidimensional model of lone parenthood, grounded in a vulnerability life-course perspective. It examines the lived experiences and developmental trajectories of 20 lone mothers across 100 in-depth biographical interviews. The analysis identifies three distinct phases in the lone parenthood experience and outlines four ideal-type trajectories, highlighting how mothers navigated life domains, such as employment, housing, health, and caregiving, over time. Although most lone mothers initially faced compounded stressors across multiple domains, many demonstrated recovery and adaptation—except in cases of chronic vulnerability. The findings indicate that resilient and non-vulnerable mothers often achieve and maintain stability, whereas those with vulnerable trajectories experienced renewed stressors over time. This study challenges static understandings of lone parenthood by emphasizing its temporal, relational, and situational complexity. It calls for policy interventions that combine early and sustained support, recognizing the heterogeneity of lone parents’ pathways and the shifting nature of their vulnerabilities over time.