Specifics of Parental Identity of Substitute Mothers

The article presents the results of a master’s study of the specifics of the parental identity of substitute mothers with teenage children. Parental attitudes, the degree of acceptance of the parental role, the ratio of ideas about the ideal mother and about oneself as a mother, the stage of personal identity were considered as components of their parental identity. It is proved that the identity of foster mothers has its own specifics, which is expressed in inconsistency, insufficient acceptance of the parental position, attitudes towards an overprotective parenting style of foster children, insufficient attention to the emotional side of the relationship with the child, with higher assessments of their parental competencies compared to biological mothers. The study involved 60 mothers, 30 of whom raised their own children and 30 adopted ones.

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