The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of new mothers in China: A qualitative study of mothers with infants aged 0–1 year old
BackgroundChina has implemented a strict epidemic control policy (ECP) for 3 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. New mothers are under great psychological pressure to protect themselves against the virus, following the ECP, as well as taking on the main responsibility of raising their children. Howe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1138349/full |
| _version_ | 1797859728083124224 |
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| author | Dandan Zou Chen Chen |
| author_facet | Dandan Zou Chen Chen |
| author_sort | Dandan Zou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundChina has implemented a strict epidemic control policy (ECP) for 3 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. New mothers are under great psychological pressure to protect themselves against the virus, following the ECP, as well as taking on the main responsibility of raising their children. However, the mental health of this group has been neglected by the public. This article aims to understand the mental health of new mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodQualitative research methods were adopted in this study. From 1 October to 1 November 2022, we conducted in-depth interviews with 36 new mothers in Guiyang, Guizhou, China, and used thematic analysis to examine their emotional status, as well as the origins of their negative and positive emotions.Results(1) New mothers are chronically depressed, feeling anxious, and upset. (2) Negative emotions are caused either by the virus or by the ECP. (3) New mothers are mainly anxious about their children's physical health, feeding options, childcare, and family income. (4) Positive emotions are reflected by tight parent–child bonds, a better understanding of childcare, and an increased ability to perceive risks.ConclusionThe anxiety of new mothers has revealed the shortcomings of the Chinese health system in the emergency management of the mother and child. At the same time, the outbreak is an opportunity to improve the response management capacity of the health system in order to prevent the recurrence of similar problems for mothers and infants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:35:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe903e611d1f4170928723ee2366591a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:35:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe903e611d1f4170928723ee2366591a2023-03-27T04:50:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-03-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.11383491138349The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of new mothers in China: A qualitative study of mothers with infants aged 0–1 year oldDandan Zou0Chen Chen1School of Marxism, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, ChinaCollege of Literature and Journalism, Qiannan University of Science and Technology, Qiannan, ChinaBackgroundChina has implemented a strict epidemic control policy (ECP) for 3 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. New mothers are under great psychological pressure to protect themselves against the virus, following the ECP, as well as taking on the main responsibility of raising their children. However, the mental health of this group has been neglected by the public. This article aims to understand the mental health of new mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodQualitative research methods were adopted in this study. From 1 October to 1 November 2022, we conducted in-depth interviews with 36 new mothers in Guiyang, Guizhou, China, and used thematic analysis to examine their emotional status, as well as the origins of their negative and positive emotions.Results(1) New mothers are chronically depressed, feeling anxious, and upset. (2) Negative emotions are caused either by the virus or by the ECP. (3) New mothers are mainly anxious about their children's physical health, feeding options, childcare, and family income. (4) Positive emotions are reflected by tight parent–child bonds, a better understanding of childcare, and an increased ability to perceive risks.ConclusionThe anxiety of new mothers has revealed the shortcomings of the Chinese health system in the emergency management of the mother and child. At the same time, the outbreak is an opportunity to improve the response management capacity of the health system in order to prevent the recurrence of similar problems for mothers and infants.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1138349/fullCOVID-19mother-infant interactionsmental healthanxietypublic health |
| spellingShingle | Dandan Zou Chen Chen The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of new mothers in China: A qualitative study of mothers with infants aged 0–1 year old Frontiers in Public Health COVID-19 mother-infant interactions mental health anxiety public health |
| title | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of new mothers in China: A qualitative study of mothers with infants aged 0–1 year old |
| title_full | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of new mothers in China: A qualitative study of mothers with infants aged 0–1 year old |
| title_fullStr | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of new mothers in China: A qualitative study of mothers with infants aged 0–1 year old |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of new mothers in China: A qualitative study of mothers with infants aged 0–1 year old |
| title_short | The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of new mothers in China: A qualitative study of mothers with infants aged 0–1 year old |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic on the mental health of new mothers in china a qualitative study of mothers with infants aged 0 1 year old |
| topic | COVID-19 mother-infant interactions mental health anxiety public health |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1138349/full |
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