Views of the ideal family among women with different lengths of previous marriage

Abstract

This article examines women’s views of the ideal family, analyzing how these views are influenced by the duration of previous marital experience. Statistics showing that 68% of marriages end in divorce make divorce a significant crisis event requiring a reevaluation of life orientations. The study identified the value-semantic components of family-related perceptions, including emotional intimacy, trust relationships, and family traditions. Special attention was paid to comparing the structure of the ideal family image among women with short-term and long-term marital experience. The study sample consisted of 264 women (mean age 43.8 years) with previous marriage durations of less than 10 years and more than 10 years. The research was conducted using an online survey method. For qualitative data processing, frequency analysis and content analysis with subsequent categorization of responses were applied. Statistical hypothesis testing was performed using the χ² test to compare nominal variables between independent samples. The results showed that emotional closeness, partner's financial responsibility, and reliability are key characteristics of ideal relationships in both groups. The study demonstrates the unity of basic value foundations in the image of the ideal family among women, regardless of the duration of their previous marital experience. Women with longer marriage durations demonstrate a more structured and detailed understanding of family relationships, emphasizing emotional depth and the significance of traditions. In contrast, women with shorter marriage experience display a greater focus on parental aspects and form less differentiated expectations. The obtained results confirm the hypothesis about the significance of marital duration for the structure of representations of the ideal family, which manifests not in the change of basic values, but in their differentiated actualization and semantic content. The findings contribute to the development of differentiated approaches to psychological support for women in the process of building new family relationships.