Werdende Eltern

The qualitative longitudinal study focuses on the phase of becoming parents and families from an educational science perspective and examines how expectant parents actively navigate the transition to (renewed) parenthood. This transition is understood as a complex social process that touches on various areas of life. Based on parent interviews, two meaningful types of the transition to parenthood were reconstructed: the affective-self-driven type and the creative-planned type. These types encompass the action-guiding orientations of the respondents regarding the areas of children, parenthood, education, family, everyday life, and couple relationships. Additionally, a comparison was made that provides empirical insights into the differences and similarities of the transition to first-time and multiple parenthood. Overall, it is highlighted that the focus on the project character of parenthood and the crisis of first-time parenthood often falls short, as this transition is embedded in relationships and everyday family life.