Mothers’ lived experiences during COVID-19 pandemic (A qualitative study using a phenomenological approach)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’I University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Clinical and General Psychology Department, Allameh Tabataba’I University, Tehran, Iran

3 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’I University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Objective:  This research aimed to study mothers' lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: The research methodology was qualitative, and the research type was phenomenological. The statistical population of the study consisted of mothers with student children who had high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress based on the DASS-24 questionnaire due to the experience of the coronavirus pandemic in 2021 The sampling method was purposeful and continued until theoretical saturation was reached (30 people). Collaizi's seven-step analysis method was applied to analyze the interviews. The gathering and analysis of the data were handled simultaneously.
Results:  1177 codes were extracted and eventually categorized into 6 components. The findings indicate that we can study mothers' lived experiences during the spread of COVID-19 from six perspectives: constructive lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, emergence, and development of psychological issues, social issues, educational and cultural issues, family issues, and physical and systemic issues.
Conclusion: The findings of the current research showed that the widespread of the COVID-19 disease had created problems in the different fields of life from the mothers' point of view, But the spread of this disease has provided them with positive experiences such as self-improvement and personal growth.

Keywords


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