Characteristics of the Spousal Relationship Among Homeschooling Parents

Homeschooling is an educational approach in which parents choose to educate their children at home instead of sending them to public or private schools. In this framework, the responsibility for education lies with the parents, who determine the curriculum, methods, and pace. In recent decades, numerous academic studies have examined the phenomenon of homeschooling. However, despite its significant impact on the couple’s relationship, this aspect remains underresearched. The current study aims to shed partial light on this topic by focusing on couples who choose to homeschool their children. Fifteen Israeli mothers who practice homeschooling were interviewed using semistructured in-depth interviews. The findings were analyzed using categorical content analysis. The results revealed a range of themes describing how mothers perceive their marital relationship within the context of homeschooling. These include a focus on the relationship, strategies for preserving it, challenges within it, and future orientation. The study shows that couples invest substantial effort in developing and maintaining their relationship and highlights the central role of the couple’s bond in the stability and growth of homeschooling families. These findings align with the Sound Relationship House (SRH) theory, developed by John Gottman.