Life Experiences Of Mothers Research Articles

Postpartum depression and life experiences of mothers with an immigrant background living in the south of Sweden

ABSTRACT Purpose Postpartum Depression (PPD) —a common health problem for mothers’ postpartum increases the risk of negative interaction between mothers and infants as it reduces the former’s ability to respond to the latter’s needs appropriately. Migrant mothers exhibit a higher prevalence of risk factors for PPD. Hence, this study aimed to investigate migrant mothers’ life experiences pertaining to motherhood and PPD. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 immigrant mothers in the south of Sweden during 2021. Results The qualitative content analysis revealed the following main themes: 1) PPD (two sub themes—psychosomatic symptoms and burden of responsibility due to feelings of loneliness); 2) mistrust of social services (one sub-theme—afraid of losing their children and Swedish social services’ lack of understanding); 3) inadequate healthcare (two sub-themes—limited healthcare literacy for migrant mothers and language barrier; 4) women’s coping strategy for well-being (two sub-themes—better awareness and understanding of the Swedish system and society, and freedom and independence in the new country). Conclusions PPD, mistrust of social services, and inadequate healthcare lacking personal continuity were common among immigrant women, thus precipitating discrimination—including lack of access to services because of limited health literacy, cultural differences, language barriers, and insufficient support.

Life-Changing Experiences of Mothers with School-Age Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Their Health Risk Perceptions and Health-Related Behaviors.

This study aimed to explore health risk perceptions, changes in health-related behaviors, and life experiences of mothers with school-age children during the early coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Data were collected between 16 July and 10 September 2020, by individual interviews and analyzed through qualitative content analysis. After the twelve participants’ experiences were analyzed, four themes and ten sub-themes were derived. The four themes were: “Struggling to identify the substance of COVID-19,” “Taking the initiative to protect the health of the family,” “Frustrated by the brutal reality of no end in sight,” and “Trying to adjust wisely to an inevitable new lifestyle.” The findings suggest that while the world remains in an ongoing battle with COVID-19, national health institutions should prepare a health education system for specific infection prevention methods that can be practiced by individuals in daily life.

Just Like Any Other Family? Everyday Life Experiences of Mothers of Adults with Severe Mental Illness in Sweden

This study explores experiences of mothers in Sweden who care for their adult children suffering from severe mental illness. Using 15 interviews with mothers from 40 to 80 years old, the article examines how predominant professional knowledge and sanism constructs the mothers and their children as deviant and what counterstrategies the mothers develop as a response to these experiences of discrimination. The findings show that the mothers’ experiences are characterized by endless confrontations with negative attitudes and comments that have forced them to go through painful and prolonged processes of self-accusations for not having given enough love, care, support and help in different stages of their children's life. But the mothers’ experiences also reveal important aspects of changes over the life span. As the mothers are ageing, the relationship between them and their children becomes more reciprocal and the ill child may even take the role as family carer.

Life Experiences of Mothers of Children with an Intellectual Disability: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Mothers of intellectually disabled children face several psychological problems. Qualitative studies use a process that can reveal truthful perceptions and help mothers express their emotions about their unique and personal experiences. Method: This study used a qualitative research method design with a hermeneutic approach to examine the life experiences of mothers of children with intellectual disabilities in light of their caregiving experiences. Results: A phenomenological, hermeneutical analysis with an inductive approach was used. The categories of interest were determined to be “impact,” “care management,” “stigma,” “uncertainty,” “relations,” and “search for meaning.” Conclusions: Not all mothers perceive having an intellectually disabled child negatively. Some mothers may not experience any problems providing care to their children. Almost all mothers, however, have concerns for the future and experience significant changes in their family and social relationships.

The life experiences of Turkish mothers who have children with an autism spectrum disorder

This phenomenological study explored the experiences of 11 mothers who have children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Turkey. Content analysis of data from interviews emerged three themes. They include response to ASD diagnosis, living with ASD, and future perceptions. The findings indicated that the participating Turkish mothers showed negative responses after the diagnosis; potential factors could be influential on these responses; the mothers use coping strategies. Also, mothers shared their future needs These findings, which are hoped to contribute to the limited research literature on the life experiences of mothers, are discussed within the context of cultural elements in this study. The results discussed in terms of implications for future research and practices Keywords: Autism spectrum disorders, mothers, phenomenology, qualitative research

Occupational performance goals of mothers of adolescents with disabilities and mothers of adolescents with typical development

ABSTRACTThis mixed methods study describes the occupational performance goals of mothers of adolescents with disabilities and mothers of typically developing adolescents. A sample of 40 mothers was recruited, 20 mothers of typically developing adolescents and 20 mothers of adolescents with disabilities. Semi-structured interviews guided by the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure were used to gather descriptive data from the mothers. The data were then qualitatively analyzed, compared, and organized into six themes describing the mothers’ occupational performance goals. The six themes were Taking Care of Myself, Making Time for Own Occupations, Life Organization, Quality Time with Others, Sharing the Load, Supporting/Encouraging Adolescent Development. Five of the six themes were shared between both groups. The final theme was only evident in the group of mothers of adolescents with disabilities. The findings highlight the differences and similarities of occupational performance goals between mothers of typically developing adolescents and mothers of adolescents with disabilities. While similarities existed between the two groups, it is important to understand the different life experiences of mothers of adolescents with disabilities to better support them in their daily occupations.

The experiences of mothers of children with autism: Managing multiple roles

Background Mothers of children with autism experience poorer health and wellbeing compared to mothers of children with other disabilities or typically-developing children. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the daily life experiences of mothers of children with autism, and the strategies they use to manage their roles, their emotions, and their child's behaviours.Method In-depth interviews were conducted with 7 mothers and the data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.Results Findings revealed that the mothers were challenged by the demands of their multiple roles while dealing with the paradox of accepting their child for who they were, and at the same time also desiring their typical growth and development. However, the mothers reported various strategies they used to manage their roles, their emotions, and their child's behaviours.Conclusions The findings indicate that health professionals working with these families must support mothers in managing various aspects of their lives, including those not directly related to their child with autism.

Life Experiences of Mothers in Parenting Children with Hunter's Syndrome

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Korean mothers in parenting children with Hunter's syndrome, an X linked recessive genetically inherited disease usually affecting boys. Data were collected from 14 mothers having children with Hunter's syndrome, through two focus group interviews and individual in-depth interviews. Qualitative data from the field notes and transcribed notes were analyzed using the grounded theory methodology developed by Strauss & Corbin (1998). The core category about the process of rearing children with Hunter's syndrome was identified as "navigating in the maze". The process of rearing children with Hunter's syndrome passed through three phases; 'entering an unknown region', 'struggling to escape from the unknown region', 'settling down in the unknown region'. In this study "navigating in the maze", as the core category deeply showed joys and sorrows of mothers in the process of rearing their children with Hunter's syndrome. In this rearing process they gradually adjusted themselves to their given condition. Also they gained initiatively coping strategies to care for, and protect their children. Therefore health care providers can establish supportive programs in the clinical field to empower these mothers by reflecting their proactive coping strategies.

Mothers' Everyday Experiences of Having an Adult Child Who Suffers from Long-Term Mental Illness

This paper aims to describe everyday life experiences of mothers who have an adult child with a long-term mental illness. Sixteen mothers were interviewed. A content analysis resulted in one main theme: My adult child who is struggling with mental illness is always on my mind, and three subthemes: (1) living a life under constant strain, (2) living with an emotional burden, and (3) seeing light in the darkness despite difficulties. Knowledge of mothers’ everyday life experiences is of great importance in order to support them and thereby increase the possibility of these mothers being a source of strength for their child.

The health and life experiences of mothers with rheumatoid arthritis: A phenomenological study

In our varied roles as health care professionals and researchers, many women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have commented to us about their feelings of inability to cope with everyday tasks, especially within their role as mothers. This study explored the health and life experiences of mothers with RA in order to increase knowledge about this group of women and inform health care professionals who provide them with support before and after becoming a mother. A phenomenological approach was adopted, and individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews were carried out with a sample of seven women, aged 21-41 years, who had lived with RA for 3-11 years and had one or more children under five years of age (total range of ages being 1-7 years). The data were analysed using Colaizzi's procedural steps. The five major themes that emerged were inner strength, depression, labelling, failure, and pre- and post-natal education. Sub-themes included issues such as putting on a brave face, spirituality, guilt, burden, feeling 'robbed of motherhood', isolation, coping methods and lack of information. This in-depth study informs health care professionals for their role as support provider for mothers with RA. Further research needs to be carried out to include multicultural experiences, which may or may not differ. As a step forward, we have implemented a local support group for mothers with RA, which will hopefully add benefit to existing rheumatology, midwifery and health visiting services.