Work

“A mother somewhere between life and death”: a qualitative study of mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder within a feminist social work framework

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective To examine how women diagnosed with bipolar disorder experience and negotiate motherhood through a critical-feminist social work lens. Methods This study conducted a supplementary qualitative secondary analysis within a qualitative design informed by a critical-feminist epistemological position. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews with eight unemployed mothers receiving treatment at the psychiatry clinic of a foundation university hospital in Türkiye were reanalyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis combined inductive coding with theoretically informed critical-feminist interpretation. Results Six themes captured constrained maternal identity, interruptions to everyday caregiving, guilt and maternal self-evaluation, perceived fragility in mother–child relationships, motherhood as a source of meaning and strength, and shifting family support roles ranging from ordinary assistance to one explicit account of perceived role reversal. These accounts were interpreted in relation to gendered motherhood norms, family authority, and material constraints. Conclusion The findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive, family-oriented psychosocial interventions for mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Source: Frontiers in Psychiatry

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1951897

Authors: Selda Meydan, Emel Yurtsever, Mustafa Karataş

Institutions: Istanbul Medipol University, İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim Üniversitesi, Kutahya Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Language: English

Topic: Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Gender equality, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801