| Abstract [eng] |
“Women’s experience of change in psychological well-being after having a second child”, Urte Geceviciute, Vilnius, Vilnius University, 2025, 61 p. It has been observed that women receive less support after the birth of their second child than after the birth of their first, and that the birth of a second child brings its own set of challenges, however, the mental health of women with a second child and their experience of motherhood is still little explored in the scientific literature. The aim of this study is to explore women’s experience of change in psychological well-being after having a second child. The participants were 6 women (aged 31-38 years) with a second child, aged between 13 and 24 months old at the time of the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Five main themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Changes in identity; 2) Changes in family dynamics; 3) Balancing responsibilities; 4) Psychological roller coaster; 5) The importance of social relationships and multidimensional support. The results showed that having a second child can lead to fluctuations in women's self-confidence, strengthen or, on the contrary, lead to more tension in interpersonal relationships, also, a heavy workload can lead to fatigue and emotional fluctuations. Women's feelings of loneliness in caring for two children and the importance of social support were highlighted. The results of this study provide information on the experiences of women with a second child and may be useful in organizing effective support for mothers in health care settings. |
