This life history study on single mothers seeks to understand their experiences across their entire life course, exploring the psychological inner world of individuals through the lens of family dynamics and historical context. By taking a comprehensive view of their lives, the study examines how shifts in social circumstances have impacted their experiences, using in-depth qualitative interviews for empirical, experiential approach.

The analysis is organized around key themes: factors contributing to single motherhood, experiences surrounding pregnancy and the present, and outlooks on future life, covering aspects of passive acceptance and active decision-making as well as tangible social support. First, findings suggest that factors such as family background - upbringing and relationships, for example - significantly influence the likelihood of single motherhood. Second, single mothers often experience profound psychological shifts due to pregnancy and childbirth, with many continuing to feel empathy for their child even after separation, when the child has been placed in adoptive care. 

Third, single mothers' attitudes toward the future were marked by either passive adaptation or active choice, with the experience of single motherhood having a lasting effect on their future outlook and lifestyle. Lastly, the study emphasizes the need for a range of social support for single mothers, including proactive encouragement, material and emotional support, access to healthcare, and counseling and education programs.