The great paradox of parenthood: Meanings and experiences among adults in Chile

Abstract

Objective

This study describes the paradox of parenthood in the meanings and experiences of mothers and fathers in Chile.

Background

The paradox reflects the coexistence of positive and negative aspects that shape parenting as a complex and often ambivalent experience. The study addresses the scarcity of research exploring parental tensions and ambivalences in Latin American contexts, particularly in Chile, where cultural and socioeconomic dynamics remain underexamined in global literature.

Method

A phenomenological design was employed, with a sample of 18 participants, all established adults with at least one child between 2 and 12 years of age. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling, and data were collected through semistructured interviews. In the data analysis, the reflexive thematic analysis approach was employed.

Results

Five main themes were found: (a) meanings of parenthood: contradictions between ideals and lived experience; (b) losses and identity reconfigurations associated with parenthood; (c) incompatible demands: tensions between childrearing and other socially demanding roles; (d) the social environment as a source of both support and strain; and (e) emotional ambivalence in the experience of parenthood.

Conclusion

Contradictions emerge as inherent to parenting, underscoring the need to alleviate social and emotional pressures and foster realistic expectations and dialogue among caregivers.