Perceptions of Motherhood Among Female Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Keywords:
Nurse mothers, motherhood, pandemics, COVID-19, ideal motherhood, good-enough motherhoodAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the types of epidemics whose scope and rapid transmission rate, along with a considerable mortality rate, posed costly challenges for the fields of medical science and technology. Healthcare personnel were at the forefront and most direct position in confronting and managing this disease. Among them, nurse mothers played a primary and vital role in both patient care and supporting their families. The present study aims to investigate how nurse mothers perceived their maternal role during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study was conducted using purposive sampling with the participation of 15 nurse mothers who had children of compulsory education age (7 to 15 years old) in the city of Amol. Semi-structured interviews were used as the data collection tool. Upon reaching theoretical saturation, directed content analysis was employed for data analysis. Out of a total of 240 secondary codes, 17 basic themes, 6 organizing themes, and 3 overarching categories were identified and classified. The organizing themes included: "Crisis management and response," "Occupational challenges and professional development," "Emotional–psychological transformations," "Communication patterns and enhancing interaction," "Changes in maternal responsibilities and communication patterns," and "Children’s education and psychological security." These organizing themes were grouped into three main categories: "Coping with the situation and interpreting threats," "Motherhood amidst emotional–psychological transformations, communication patterns, and strengthened interaction with the child," and "Motherhood at the intersection of changing responsibilities/communication patterns and the child’s psychological security." The findings of the study indicate that, in response to the conditions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, nurse mothers shifted their perception of "ideal motherhood" to "good-enough motherhood." Attending to children’s emotions, emotional needs, and psychological safety became the primary concern for mothers. This shift consequently led to changes in maternal behavioral and educational patterns.
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