PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF STRESS MANAGEMENT IN YOUNG MOTHERS RAISING CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OLD
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32689/maup.psych.2025.3.11Keywords:
stress, coping, coping strategies, young mothers, children under three years old, psychological supportAbstract
The article examines the psychological features of coping with stress among young mothers raising children under the age of three. It emphasizes that the period of early motherhood is accompanied by an increased level of psycho-emotional strain caused by postpartum physiological changes, lack of sleep, the need for constant child care, and the transformation of women’s social roles. Stress conditions during this period may have long-term negative consequences for both the mother’s psychological well-being and the child’s emotional development. The analysis of current research has shown that the key factors in coping with stress are the level of social support, the individual psychological resources of the woman, and the presence of self-regulation skills. It was found that young mothers use a variety of coping strategies, with the most effective being seeking social support, constructive problem solving, relaxation techniques, and positive reappraisal of the situation. At the same time, a significant proportion of women tend to resort to avoidance and emotional responding, which increases the risk of chronic stress. The article concludes that there is a need for targeted psychological assistance to young mothers, in particular through psychoeducational programs, emotional self-regulation training, and support groups. Promising areas for further research include studying the gender aspects of parental stress and comparing the effectiveness of various psychological interventions for overcoming stressful conditions in the early years of motherhood.
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