Managing Communication Uncertainties Between Mothers and Daughters Across Generational Cohorts

Mother-daughter relationships are characterized by tension between autonomy and connection, generating uncertainties in routine communication. Drawing on the Uncertainty Management Theory, this study explored relational uncertainties in adult mother-daughter communication across life stages within a familistic culture. We conducted six focus groups with 43 Israeli women across three generations: young adult (ages 23–35), midlife (ages 45–62), and elderly (ages 68–82). Thematic co-occurrence analysis identified three uncertainty types (information sharing, well-being, and availability) and their interactions. Women employed strategies aimed at both reducing uncertainties through direct communication and third-party assistance, and maintaining uncertainties through accepting, avoiding, and restraining. Findings extend the uncertainty management framework by illuminating how mother-daughter relationships in a familistic culture shape relational labor and communication dynamics across women’s lifespans.