The Women and Families Cultural-Educational

The Women and Families Cultural-Educational

The Lived Experiences of Highly Resilient Mothers with Multiple Children: A Phenomenological Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Master's student, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Khwarazmi University, Karaj, Iran.
3 PhD student, Counseling Department, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Allameh Tabatabe'i University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Mothers with multiple children face multilayered responsibilities in parenting, emotional care, and social roles, which place them under considerable psychological pressure. Nevertheless, some of these mothers demonstrate high levels of resilience by drawing on individual and social resources. The present study aimed to explore the lived experiences of highly resilient mothers with multiple children. This qualitative research employed a phenomenological approach. The study population consisted of mothers with three or more children who were purposefully selected based on predefined criteria. According to the principle of theoretical saturation, 15 participants were ultimately interviewed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews lasting 60 to 90 minutes and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. To ensure rigor, peer debriefing and member checking were applied. The analysis yielded three overarching themes—“familial,” “personal,” and “environmental”—comprising 23 subthemes and 57 categories. Familial resources such as spousal and family support, enriched family structures, and empathy played a crucial role in strengthening resilience. At the individual level, factors including awareness, self-esteem, internal locus of control, spirituality, and self-care were prominent. Environmental dimensions, such as education, social support, and an adequate living environment, also provided significant protective resources. Findings revealed that maternal resilience in multi-child families is a dynamic and multilayered phenomenon arising from the interplay of personal, familial, and environmental factors. These insights can serve as a foundation for designing psychosocial and community-based interventions aimed at empowering mothers and promoting family well-being.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 11 November 2025

  • Receive Date 13 March 2025
  • Revise Date 13 October 2025
  • Accept Date 11 November 2025
  • Publish Date 11 November 2025