Exploration of Early Lived Emotions of Mothers in Iranian Families: A Qualitative Study Using a Thematic Analysis Approach

Document Type : Original Article

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1 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department psychology,Tarbiat Modares university

Abstract

While contemporary ideologies often romanticize motherhood as an ideal and wholly joyful experience, the reality of motherhood reveals a complex array of emotions for women as they transition into this role. The objective of this study was to investigate the spectrum of emotions that mothers undergo during the initial stages of motherhood. This qualitative study was conducted among 13 first time mothers with infants under 12 months old, using a semi-structured format. Data analysis was performed through thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's six-step framework. From the interviews, four negative themes (discrepancies between idealized and experienced perceptions of motherhood, acquired or experiential nature of parenting skills, priority of maternal identity over individual identity, and a lack of agency in decision-making for both the mother and infant) and one positive (sublimation after adapting to motherhood) theme emerged. Mothers who struggled to meet the perceived ideals of motherhood experienced feelings of shame, guilt, loneliness, isolation, as well as anger and desperation. Many mothers undergo a range of complex negative emotions during the adjustment to motherhood, which cannot simply be categorized as perinatal depression. This study suggests that counseling psychologists should view these experiences as normal responses to motherhood, rather than pathologizing them.

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