Motherhood in the light of one’s history of substance use addiction and recovery

Abstract

This study explores the understanding of motherhood in the light of their history of substance use addiction and recovery. The research question delves into the narratives of these mothers, exploring how their history as users impacts on their understanding of their identity as a mother. Special attention is given to the way the mothers assert their parental authority. A narrative research design is employed consisting of six interviews, one with each of the participant mothers. Results and thematic narrative analysis indicate that mothers tend to embrace the ideological discourse of ‘intensive mothering’. Additionally, maternal reflective function, adopting healthy emotional regulation strategies, and successfully working through guilt and shame thus enhancing self-forgiveness for one’s past, feature as playing an important role in the mothers’ motherhood identity. Specifically, the mothers seem more anchored in their mothering role and more confident in asserting their parental authority. This also increases the likelihood of their children developing a secure attachment with them as the mothers are more likely to serve as a secure base and a safe haven for their children. The conclusions elaborate on these findings and speculate on their implications for practice and interventions in rehabilitation, parenting, and therapeutic programs for recovering mothers.