255 The Professional Counselor™ Volume 14, Issue 3, Pages 255–270 http://tpcjournal.nbcc.org © 2024 NBCC, Inc. and Affiliates doi: 10.15241/kmht.14.3.255 Katherine M. Hermann-Turner, Jonathan D. Wiley, Corrin N. Brown, Alyssa A. Curtis, Dessie S. Avila Rural Mothers’ Postpartum Social and Emotional Experiences: A Qualitative Investigation The social and emotional challenges experienced by new mothers residing in rural areas are distinct from those confronted by their urban and suburban counterparts. However, the existing literature on postpartum social and emotional experiences of rural mothers is limited. To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted a phenomenological study to explore the postpartum social and emotional experiences of rural mothers. The study revealed that rural mothers experience feelings of powerlessness, thwarted help-seeking, and resilience. Findings are discussed in the context of the wider discourse on childbirth and postpartum experiences of rural mothers and have important implications for professional counselors serving rural communities. Keywords: rural mothers, postpartum, social, emotional, rural communities It is estimated that approximately 3.6 million women give birth in the United States annually (Osterman et al., 2023). The process of becoming a mother is a challenging and transformative experience that may bring about emotional vulnerability, radical changes in identity, and the risk of adverse psychosocial outcomes (Darvill et al., 2010). This transition can have a significant impact on a mother’s overall social and emotional well-being, including their self-efficacy, self-esteem, and sense of empowerment (Fenwick et al., 2003). For example, mothers who have reported a traumatic birth described subsequent difficulties with maternal self-efficacy and emotional disconnection from their child after delivery (Molloy et al., 2021). Furthermore, balancing family responsibilities, caring for a newborn, and focusing on career postpartum provide less available time and fewer energy resources to support self-care behaviors and to manage stress (Dugan & Barnes-Farrell, 2020), factors that have been shown to be a part of the experience of maternal postpartum depression and anxiety (Cho et al., 2022). The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of postpartum biological mothers residing in rural communities. Through qualitative inquiry, the study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of social support networks, emotional health, and the overall adjustment of mothers living in rural areas following childbirth. While we recognize that many individuals are impacted by the birth of a child (biological parents, adoptive parents, surrogate parents, grandparents, kin, and friends), that the role of a mother can be assumed by various individuals in families, and that not all individuals who give birth identify as a mother, this study specifically investigated the experiences of women who identified as biological birth mothers. By exploring the unique contexts of rural settings, we aim to uncover the nuanced factors that influence psychological well-being during the postpartum period. The findings are intended to inform clinical interventions and support strategies that will ultimately contribute to improved postpartum support and family health in rural communities. Katherine M. Hermann-Turner, PhD, NCC, BC-TMH, LPC (TN), is an associate professor at Tennessee Tech University. Jonathan D. Wiley, PhD, NCC, LPC (VA), is an assistant professor at Tennessee Tech University. Corrin N. Brown, EdS, NCC, LPC-MHSP-Temp. (TN), is a doctoral candidate at Tennessee Tech University. Alyssa A. Curtis, MS, MA, is a graduate of Tennessee Tech University. Dessie S. Avila, MA, LPC-MHSP (TN), is a doctoral candidate at Tennessee Tech University. Correspondence may be addressed to Katherine M. Hermann-Turner, Tennessee Tech University, Box 5031, Cookeville, TN 38505, khturner@tntech.edu.
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