Becoming Mum: Exploring the Emergence and Formulation of a Mother’s Identity During the Transition into Motherhood

Reveley, Samantha

doi:10.1108/s1530-353520190000014002

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Motherhood is challenging due to the demanding time, physical, and emotional expenditures, and the uncertainties associated with this role-identity (Reveley, 2019). Researchers comparing married parents and non-parents found that parenthood is associated with poorer relationship quality (Evenson & Simon, 2005;Nomaguchi & Milkie, 2003).…”

Section: Motherhood and Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…National surveys have demonstrated that currently in the United States the average age of first motherhood is 26.3 (Matthews & Hamilton, 2016). Although motherhood is not uncommon among emerging adult women, it is nevertheless stressful (Nomaguchi & Milkie, 2003Reveley, 2019). Further, multiple children may increase stress due to challenges in meeting parenting demands (Nomaguchi & Milkie, 2020).…”

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confidence: 99%

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The Stress of Motherhood and Intimate Partner Violence During Emerging Adulthood

et al. 2021

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Intimate partner violence is a serious social and public health problem for women. Researchers have shown the context in which intimate partner violence occurs matters, yet, prior work has not examined specifically whether motherhood, and the relationship context of motherhood, are associated with physical violence. Drawing on the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS) (n = 492), and the stress process framework, we compared emerging adult mothers’ (mothers with one child and mothers with multiple children) and non-mothers’ reports of physical violence. Using negative binomial regression models, we found that mothers with multiple children compared with nonmothers reported more instances of relationship violence. We also found women in dating relationships with one child compared to non-mothers reported substantially more physical violence. These findings underscore the nature of stress and motherhood during emerging adulthood and the need for intervention strategies that target new mothers.

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Section: Motherhood and Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

The Stress of Motherhood and Intimate Partner Violence During Emerging Adulthood

et al. 2021

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“…Motherhood is a time of significant psychological change which includes the development of the mother-infant relationship ( 1 , 2 ). The perinatal period (during pregnancy and up to two years following childbirth) can be a joyous as well as a challenging time for women.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Finding my voice again” - women’s experiences of psychological therapy in perinatal secondary care settings: a qualitative study

O’Brien,

Gregg,

Wittkowski

2024

Front. Psychiatry

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IntroductionAlthough women often experience mental health comorbidities in the perinatal period, the evidence-base for psychological therapy across diagnostic boundaries in the perinatal period remains limited. As there is a need to understand experiences of therapy, irrespective of diagnosis, to inform intervention provision, the aims of this study were to explore women’s experiences of psychological therapy for perinatal mental health difficulties and to identify the mechanisms that women attributed to the most significant therapeutic change for themselves and/or the mother-infant relationship.MethodSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 women who received therapy within specialist perinatal community mental health settings in the Northwest of England, the UK. Interview data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsOne overarching theme entitled participant life stories were at the heart of therapy was identified alongside three other main themes: 1.) We’re in this together – therapeutic bond and establishing a coherent sense of self, 2.) Surfing the urge to ‘fix’ feelings – Sitting with emotions improved regulation and 3.) Seeing myself in a new light – Shifting self-blame to self-compassion enhanced self-efficacy. Theme 1 consisted of three subthemes. Participants described the quality of the therapeutic relationship as the fundamental foundation to (re)connecting with their needs, values and boundaries, which improved their sense of agency, self-esteem, therapeutic engagement and self-understanding. Shifting emotional avoidance to emotional engagement improved their self-regulation. Considering alternative factors that could have contributed to their experiences helped them to defuse self-blame and enhance self-compassion. Finally, changes in their mental health led to positive relational changes in their relationship with their infant and improved communication with partners.DiscussionSensitivity, engagement and responsivity experienced in the therapist-woman relationship was reported to be mirrored in the mother-infant relationship. Developing a coherent sense of self and self-regulation skills both appeared to heighten women’s self-compassion and empathy for their infants, which also seemed to improve their ability to tolerate uncertainty and mixed emotions within themselves and their infants. The mechanisms of change in the perinatal period are important to consider at a stakeholder, therapist and service management level to parsimoniously and best meet the needs of women and the mother-infant relationship.

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Becoming Mum: Exploring the Emergence and Formulation of a Mother’s Identity During the Transition into Motherhood

Cited by 2 publications

References 23 publications

The Stress of Motherhood and Intimate Partner Violence During Emerging Adulthood

The Stress of Motherhood and Intimate Partner Violence During Emerging Adulthood

“Finding my voice again” - women’s experiences of psychological therapy in perinatal secondary care settings: a qualitative study

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