Being a Mother with Accumulated Isolation: Phenomenological Research of Transition to Parenthood among Full-Time Mothers during the COVID-19 Pandemic
AUTHOR : 신혜림, 김현경, 주수산나
INFORMATION : page. 131~150 / 2023 Vol.30 No.4
ABSTRACT
The main goal of this study is to understand the everyday experiences of full-time mothers who experienced the transition to parenthood and caring during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative research was conducted to explore the following re-search question: How did full-time mothers manage the transition to parenthood during the COVID-19 pandemic? The study included 13 full-time mothers who lived in Seoul and Gyeonggi, were at least 3 months pregnant, and gave birth to their first child in 2020. The analysis was performed using steps suggested by Moustakas(1994), which integrates systematic processes with organizational and structural approaches. The main findings of this study are summarized as follows. First, full-time mothers were placed in a double iso-lation situation from themselves and their surroundings due to COVID-19, which they faced during pregnancy. Second, participants experienced isolated childbirth and post-partum care center life that even their husbands could not join. Third, COVID-19 places a double burden on full-time mothers who are new to parenting, such as adjustment to pa-rental transition and difficulties caused by COVID-19. Through this study, we will be able to prepare the difficulties of full-time mothers who will experience social disconnection along with the burden of caring when a crisis such as COVID-19 occurs again.