A LONGITUDINAL QUALITATIVE STUDY
Since 2012, around 40 parents who have experienced a lone parent situation are being interviewed at intervals of 2 to 3 years. Biographical interviews have been combined with life calendars and social network questionnaires to address the following:
- the transition to lone parenthood and the relationship with the non-custodial parent (custody negotiations and support payments)
- other family events and transitions (remarriage, family reunification)
- other areas of the life course (education, employment, housing, health)
In addition, each wave of field interviews focused on a specific element. Wave 1 (2012-2013) focused on the life course of lone parents and the retrospective experience of their transition to lone parenthood. Wave 2 (2015) focused on the role of public policies in overcoming the vulnerability of single parents. Wave 3 (2017-2018) focused on the social support obtained through the support networks of these parents. Wave 4 (2020) addressed the impact of the situation derived from COVID-19 on these families. The common thread running through these different waves makes it possible to analyse changes in pathways in the areas of family, employment and health.
