The lived experiences of first-time motherhood for Filipino mothers: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

• Main Author: Pasion, Regina Grace P.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: Motherhood; Mothers > Philippines; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_psych/74; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdm_psych/article/1073/viewcontent/2024_Pasion_The_Lived_Experiences_of_First_Time_Motherhood_for_Filipino_Full_text.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Motherhood has historically received limited attention in research over the past four decades. Prevailing assumptions that portray motherhood as a natural and effortless progression for firsttime mothers may have contributed to this. However, recent studies suggest that motherhood is a complex developmental phenomenon, with the experience changing the mother’s sense of identity, self, and personhood. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis, this study explores the possible developmental complexities that happen during first-time motherhood, changing the trajectory of adult development. The findings highlight profound transformations in the mother's identity and entire personhood which significantly impacts her social relationships and multiple domains of functioning such as work, and family life. These insights underscore motherhood as a distinct developmental phenomenon. The implications of this perspective for understanding motherhood's developmental aspects are explored.