本研究從女性決定進入婚姻成為繼母開始，以繼母角度瞭解她們的生命歷程，什麼樣的原因使她們決定進入婚姻成為繼母，她們在這過程中遭遇了那些困境，什麼是支持她們前進的力量，又是什麼讓她們選擇繼續留在婚姻中或是選擇離開。為探究研究問題，本研究採質性研究方法，以敘事研究理論為觀點，進行資料蒐集、分析與解釋。透過深度訪談，一共訪談了三位繼母，其中一位有二段繼親家庭的經驗，故有四個案例，以下是研究結論：一、本研究發現繼母的生命歷程可分為五個階段：「醞釀期」、「發酵期」、「質變期」、「沉澱期」、「行動期」，每個時期都有不同的狀態與內涵。二、早期的家庭經驗影響女性對婚姻的看法與態度，而父母的角色對研究參與者有著決定性的影響，特別是在母職學習方面。三、「成為繼母的決定」與「繼母角色的特性」，會影響「成為繼母的自我期許」。四、「繼母的特質」不同，將影響她們面對婚姻問題所採取的策略方式，而「繼母的類型」不同，則影響繼母扮演母職角色投入程度。最後，根據研究結果提出相關實務上的建議與研究的限制，提供實務工作者做為參考。

This study aims at the understanding of stepmother’s life course. From the women whom decided to enter the marriage as a stepmother, what causes them made that decision, they encountered what kind of difficulties and obstacles, what supported them hang on, and what made them choose to stay or leave. Narrative research method was applied here to collect data and analysis. In-depth interviews were conducted from three interviewees; one of them had two marriage experiences. The research findings were revealed and discussed as follows: (a) Life courses of stepmother can be divided into five stages: “incubation period”, “fermentation period”, “qualitative change period”, “precipitation period”, and “action period”. Each period had different state and connotation. (b) The original family experience affect female’s attitudes towards marriage. The parental role had great influence upon interviewees, especially motherhood learning. (c) “The decision to become a stepmother” and “the characteristic of stepmother role” would influence “to become a stepmother’s self-expectation.” (d) Differences of “the characteristic of stepmother” would influence the way they face the marriage; differences of “the type of stepmother” would influence the way they devote themselves to the Motherhood. Based on the findings and limitations of this study, some suggestions were offered for practioners.