Open AccessWho mothers mommy? Factors that contribute to mothers’ well-being.
Author(s) -
Suniya S. Luthar,
Lucia Ciciolla
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
developmental psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.318
H-Index - 213
eISSN - 1939-0599
pISSN - 0012-1649
DOI - 10.1037/dev0000051
Subject(s) - psycinfo , psychology , feeling , well being , developmental psychology , psychological resilience , distress , set (abstract data type) , personal distress , psychological intervention , social psychology , social support , clinical psychology , medline , psychiatry , computer science , psychotherapist , programming language , political science , law
Developmental science is replete with studies on the impact of mothers on their children, but little is known about what might best help caregivers to function well themselves. In an initial effort to address this gap, we conducted an Internet-based study of over 2,000 mostly well-educated mothers, seeking to illuminate salient risk and protective processes associated with their personal well-being. When women's feelings in the parenting role were considered along with dimensions of personal support as predictors, the latter set explained at least as much variance-and often much more-across dimensions of mothers' personal well-being. Within the latter set of personal support predictors, findings showed that 4 had particularly robust links with mothers' personal adjustment: their feeling unconditionally loved, feeling comforted when in distress, authenticity in relationships, and satisfaction with friendships. Partner satisfaction had some associations with personal adjustment outcomes, but being married in itself had negligible effects. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for future research, and for interventions aimed at fostering resilience among mothers facing high level of stress in their role as parents. (PsycINFO Database Record