A Study on the Intergenerational Transmission in Relationships between Middle-Aged Women of Middle-Aged Women and their Mothers

Objectives The purposes of this study is to analyze the relationship between middle-aged women and their mothers in order to in the process of intergenerational transmission in their relationship with children. Methods A qualitative case study methodology was adopted to examine the intergenerational transmission process between middle-aged women, their birth mothers, and their children.11 middle-aged married women were recruited to perform a qualitative case study, which was employed for data analysis. The interviewquestions were reconstructed into six questions based on the past and present experiences of the mother-child relationship. Results The research findings revealed three main categorical structures:The first structure examined experiences with birth mothers, where the highest category was “Experience of Relationship with Birth Mother.” This included middle categories of “Until the Peony Blooms” and “Gujeolcho” (a traditional Korean flower), with lower categories encompassing feelings of disappointment and hurt, ambivalent emotions, indifference, deep affection and attention, spiritual pillar, and supporting foundation. The second structure focused on experiences with children, where the highest category was “Experience with Children.” Its middle categories consisted of “Fertilizer,” “Sunlight,” and “High Fence,” while the lower categories included control, lack of understanding, seeds of learning, trial and error, intimacy, and sense of security.The third structure identified types of intergenerational transmission, which emerged in three main types: Inheritance type, Contrary type, and Awareness type. These were further detailed in lower categories as Matryoshka, Mother's mirror, Decalcomania, Echo, Hidden shadow, Uldolmok, Shining jewel, and Prism. Conclusions It is meaningful in that it provided important data for understanding the generational conflicts surrounding middle-aged married women and looking at future family relationships.