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Meaning in Life among New Mothers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Mothers’ Marital Satisfaction and Perception of the Infant

Author

Listed:
  • Miriam Chasson

    (Bar-Ilan University)

  • Ofir Ben-Yaakov

    (Bar-Ilan University)

  • Orit Taubman – Ben-Ari

    (Bar-Ilan University)

Abstract

On the assumption that existential questions may arise in the face of the transition to motherhood in the shadow of a global crisis, we sought to compare the levels of presence of meaning and search for meaning in life between two samples of new mothers: one recruited before the outbreak of COVID-19, and the other during the pandemic. In addition, we examined the associations between mother's marital satisfaction and perception of the infant on the one hand, and the two aspects of meaning in life on the other, investigating whether these variables mediate the link between research group and meaning in life. The results indicate that mothers reported significantly higher perception of infant's warmth and presence of meaning before than during the pandemic. Furthermore, they displayed greater marital satisfaction and more search for meaning during the pandemic than prior to it. For the whole sample, higher marital satisfaction and perception of infant’s warmth were related to higher presence of meaning, and lower marital satisfaction and perception of the infant's invasiveness were related to higher search for meaning. Finally, mother's marital satisfaction and perception of the infant fully mediated the relationship between the research group and the two aspects of meaning in life. These findings are significant in that they provide, for the first time, evidence of changes in meaning in life among new mothers in a crisis situation, along with the importance of their perceptions of their relationships with the infant and spouse under these circumstances.

Suggested Citation

  • Miriam Chasson & Ofir Ben-Yaakov & Orit Taubman – Ben-Ari, 2021. "Meaning in Life among New Mothers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Mothers’ Marital Satisfaction and Perception of the Infant," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(8), pages 3499-3512, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:22:y:2021:i:8:d:10.1007_s10902-021-00378-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-021-00378-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jay J. Van Bavel & Katherine Baicker & Paulo S. Boggio & Valerio Capraro & Aleksandra Cichocka & Mina Cikara & Molly J. Crockett & Alia J. Crum & Karen M. Douglas & James N. Druckman & John Drury & Oe, 2020. "Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(5), pages 460-471, May.
    2. Michael L. Goodman & Derrick C. Gibson & Philip H. Keiser & Stanley Gitari & Lauren Raimer-Goodman, 2019. "Family, Belonging and Meaning in Life Among Semi-rural Kenyans," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(5), pages 1627-1645, June.
    3. Antonio Crego & José Ramón Yela & María Ángeles Gómez-Martínez & Ahmed A. Karim, 2020. "The Contribution of Meaningfulness and Mindfulness to Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health: A Structural Equation Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(8), pages 2827-2850, December.
    4. Orit Taubman - Ben-Ari & Shirley Ben Shlomo & Liora Findler, 2012. "Personal Growth and Meaning in Life Among First-Time Mothers and Grandmothers," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(5), pages 801-820, October.
    5. Nur Demirbaş-Çelik & İbrahim Keklik, 2019. "Personality Factors and Meaning in Life: The Mediating Role of Competence, Relatedness and Autonomy," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 995-1013, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kozhaya, Mireille, 2022. "The double burden: The impact of school closures on labor force participation of mothers," Ruhr Economic Papers 956, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.

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