Citation

Allen S. Fam. Relat. 2008; 57(1): 84-99.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, National Council on Family Relations (USA), Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1741-3729.2007.00485.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the dialectical dimensions of home as experienced by geographically mobile couples. Informants (N= 48) defined home as having multiple meanings and locations, with 4 dialectical tensions embedded within their experience. Home was situated between (a) geographic spaces that were here and there, (b) geographic spaces that were temporary and permanent, (c) temporal spaces in the past and future, and (d) child and adult identities. Two key strategies emerged in navigating these tensions: (a) resolving ambivalence and (b) maintaining ambivalence. Implications and applications of the findings are discussed.