Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-24-2026
Abstract
Objective
Daughters undertake daughtering, or the everyday role portrayal of contributing to a meaningful family relationship with their mothers, but the labor of it is often invisible.
Background
Using a strengths-based approach, we investigated what daughters do well in their relationships with mothers.
Method
We analyzed the responses of 1,444 women to the open-ended question, “What do you do well as a daughter?” to learn more about how women describe their daughtering. Utilizing the artificial intelligence of a large language model for data analysis, we supplied definitions and descriptions of 12 virtues and strengths from existing literature and created a codebook to train the model.
Results
We organized the core findings into four primary themes: beyond-the-self orientation, mattering, interpersonal generosity, and a partnering of both coherence and purpose.
Conclusion
Taken as a whole, these results illustrate core strengths involved in daughtering mothers in adulthood and reflect the need for additional research that centers positive communication practices.
Implications
Recognizing the many ways that women enact daughtering across cultures can guide community and policy initiatives that prioritize care acts and relational labor as vital to families and societies.
Recommended Citation
Alford, A. M., Phillips, K. E., Stipanovic, L. V., Rocha-Barnette, C. A., & Miller-Day, M. (2026). Being there for mom: The strengths of daughtering. Family Relations, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.70122
Copyright
The authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Included in
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons
Comments
This article was originally published in Family Relations in 2026. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.70122