Self-as-mother: the role of a relational self in the development and support of maternal identity and wellbeing in the early years of parenting

This exploratory case study examined maternal wellbeing during the preschool years. Research into gender and wellbeing suggests a relationship with relational self-construal, how one defines oneself in relation to close others, which may illuminate the processes by which mothers maintain and enhance their wellbeing. Eight mothers completed three scales to measure relational self-concept, relational self-esteem and life satisfaction and participated in semi-structured interviews. Family were incorporated into the self, more than friends, despite connectedness to friends. The results indicate a need for maternal interventions to focus on intimate relationships, in addition to friendship support.