The Process by which Mothers of One- to Two-month-old Infants Seek Help from Nursing Professional

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to clarify the process leading mothers of one- to two-month-old infants to seek help from nursing professional and to contribute to the discussion of how best to support mothers in seeking help. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 primipara mothers of one- to two-month-old infants, and the data were analyzed qualitatively and inductively using the Modified Grounded Theory Approach. Results: The process by which these mothers seek help from nursing professional began with feeling “trivial concerns about their own child that arise regularly” during parenting. Parents fall into a “cycle amplifying parenting anxiety” and this process was impacted by “disappointment in the response of nursing professional”, “satisfaction with the response of nursing professional”, and an “affirmative attitude toward help-seeking and reassurance from hearing typical experiences of other mothers”. The process ultimately impacted the mothers’ “idea and decision to seek help from nursing professional” while their feelings about help-seeking spiraled back and forth. Conclusion: These results suggested that reducing barriers to help-seeking and establishing an environment where support is readily available even if barriers arise are important ways to assist mothers in seeking help from nursing professional.