Sustaining family life: Social-ecological resilience among single mothers in rural East Java

Single mothers in rural areas face simultaneous economic and caregiving responsibilities, social expectations regarding gender roles, and limited access to support, which may affect their ability to sustain family life. This study aims to analyze how single mothers in rural Jombang Regency sustain family life through personal agency, social support, religious meaning-making, and adaptation to gender norms. This qualitative case study involved six purposively selected single mothers as primary informants and 12 supporting informants. Data from interviews, four weeks of participant observation, and documentation were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis, informed by Ungar’s social-ecological perspective. The findings reveal three main patterns. First, multidimensional maternal agency is manifested through commitment to children, material and emotional support from kinship networks, and reciprocal community practices. Second, religious-spiritual resilience emerges through religious study gatherings (pengajian) as spaces for support and togetherness, alongside the interpretation of caregiving as a religious trust and an act of worship. Third, agency within constraints is reflected in adaptations to gender roles, efforts to maintain social acceptance, the reinterpretation of family responsibilities, and unequal access to family and community support. The study concludes that single mothers’ resilience is social-ecological in nature, shaped by personal actions, social relationships, and religious meaning-making, while also being influenced by gender norms and unequal access to support. The study recommends that the government strengthen community support and inclusive religious activities, expand access to social services, and develop economic empowerment initiatives that accommodate single mothers’ caregiving responsibilities.