Identity Construction as a Mother: A Comparative Study Between Adopted and Nonadopted Women |
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| Authors: | Meritxell Pacheco Pérez Laia Garcia Sala Marta Canal Ortega |
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| Institution: | 1. Faculty of Psychology, Education Science and Sport, Blanquerna–University Ramon Llull, Barcelona, SpainmeritxellPP@blanquerna.url.edu;3. Faculty of Psychology, Education Science and Sport, Blanquerna–University Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain |
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| Abstract: | From a constructivist perspective we studied the experience of motherhood in a comparative study with 15 adopted women and 15 nonadopted women, all of them also biological mothers. We used the social self grid, and it was analyzed by means of the program RECORD 5.0 and also through content analysis. Results show similarities and differences between the two groups in the construction of identity as a mother. Although in both samples the self as a mother is constructed similarly to the self in their couple relationship, this is more evident in the case of adoptive daughters, and the difference is statistically significant. The meanings attributed to their own motherhood are similar in both samples and have to do with enjoying motherhood. Nonetheless, in the adoptive sample there are more constructs related to control and doing things right, and in the biological sample there are more constructs referring to naturalness and devotion. Moreover, in the adoptive sample there appears a higher presence of cognitive conflicts and lower self-esteem, and both results tend to significance. |
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