STUDENT: Samantha Zanabria

ADVISOR: Dr. Renae McNair

ABSTRACT:

Keywords: Motherhood, mood disorders, social perceptions, parenting, women

Society’s perception and expectations on what a “”good”” mother looks or acts like impact women and their mental health. Everyday more and more women feel like the world is judging them on every scale, whether it being a good mother, employee, wife etc. Women are seen to have these expectations in regard to their degree of competence in raising their children. There is a growing necessity to improve on parental coping mechanisms and providing parental support for women who struggle with depression, PPD, and other mood disorders. The feeling of failure or inadequacy can gravely negatively impact women’s mental health and their parenting. Do women’s perception of social expectations of motherhood impact them in their mother-infant relationship as well?