Psycho-social experiences of stay-at-home mothers

Abstract

This study has been conducted in order to understand the experiences of stay-at-home mothers, in particular those who have quit their jobs after having children. Convenience sampling has been used and only women who have a child/children at home and who have been working for at least one year prior to leaving their jobs were included in the study. Phenomenology has been used as the major framework. Interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used in order to classify experiences into themes. The themes that emerged involved unexpected obstacles, ambiguous satisfaction, self-identity, changes in self-perception, challenges, support, and going forward. Larger implications of the study involve aspects like more flexible hours at companies in order to retain mothers.