RESUMEN
Early motherhood may develop various stresses for the teen mothers and have adverse consequences. Current research aims at exploring experiences of teen mothers with stress and stressors of early motherhood. This qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis through in-depth semistructured interview. Eighteen Iranian teen mothers, who experienced parenting stress, with maximum variation in the age of first pregnancy, child's age, place of residence, and financial condition took part in this research. Data collection continued until saturation and were analyzed using MAXQDA10 software. Data analysis led to extraction of five categories including "storm of anxiety," "wander identity," "an unaccompanied way," "unarmed combat," and "a tired body." Teen mothers experienced tensions such as fear and worry, isolation and loneliness, regret, shame, depression, and doubt. These tensions originated from identity conflicts, inadequate social support, role inefficiencies, physical problems, and responsibilities. Teen mothers are influenced by various physical, psychological, social, and economic stressors which are in relation with the teenage, motherhood role, and the environment. Nurses are the major source of support for the teen mothers. Nurses should identify stress and stressors in teen mothers and strengthen well-being feeling in the teen mothers and their children through care, educational, consultative, and coordination interventions.
Asunto(s)
Madres/psicología , Responsabilidad Parental/psicología , Embarazo en Adolescencia/psicología , Adolescente , Femenino , Humanos , Irán , Acontecimientos que Cambian la Vida , Madres/estadística & datos numéricos , Responsabilidad Parental/tendencias , Embarazo , Investigación Cualitativa , Estrés Psicológico/etiología , Estrés Psicológico/psicologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Early motherhood is one of the most important issues in developing countries. Adolescent mothers are not sufficiently prepared to accept the maternal role. How to achieve success in the maternal role should be studied. OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of Iranian adolescent mothers about the maternal role. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted through a conventional content analysis approach from March to December 2016. Face to face in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 Iranian teenage mothers in Kerman province, Iran. Participants were selected purposefully and with maximum variation of the age of the first birth, child's age, place of residence and financial status. Data collection continued until data saturation and MAXQDA software was utilized to analyze the collected data. RESULTS: Data analysis resulted in the extraction of the two main categories including optimizing the process of the maternal experience (use of maximum individual capabilities, planning and management of conditions, efforts to acquire maternal competency, and reliance on spirituality) and supporters for the acceptance of the maternal role (social support, professional services of health care providers, time lapse, care history). CONCLUSION: Early motherhood is not merely an unpleasant experience; if appropriate strategies and facilitators are used, it can have positive consequences. Health care providers should provide satisfactory services in care, education and support with adequate knowledge of adolescent characteristics. Opportunities in the community should also be directed to support this vulnerable group.
RESUMEN
Early motherhood is a major health challenge in most developing countries. The aim of this study was to explore Iranian mothers' experiences of the outcomes of early motherhood. This qualitative study was done using the conventional inductive content analysis approach. A purposive sample of 18 Iranian mothers, with the experience of early motherhood, was recruited with maximum variation in terms of their age at their first pregnancy, their children's age, place of residence, and financial status. Data collection was done via in-depth semistructured interviews and continued up to data saturation. The MAXQDA software (v. 10.0) was employed for handling the data. Iranian mothers' experiences of the outcomes of early motherhood came into two main categories that were named "realization of the childhood dream of adulthood" and "heavy burden of adulthood on the small shoulders of childhood," The four subcategories of the first category were the acceleration of intellectual and mental maturation, strengthening of family relationships, developing a strong identity, and closer companionship with the child. The second main category also included four subcategories, namely, experiencing numerous difficulties, threats to mothers' physical and mental health, threats to children's health, and missing opportunities. Early motherhood is not merely a negative experience; rather it is also associated with different positive outcomes. Healthcare providers need to provide high-quality prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal care services to adolescent mothers and use available opportunities to strongly support them and their children.