Postpartum Mental Health Experiences of Women with Disabilities: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Approach. - Project abstract In the United States, women with disabilities not only face a heightened risk of pregnancy complications, maternal morbidity, and mortality, but also experience elevated rates of mental health disorders. The physical, emotional, and mental health of mothers during the postpartum period is crucial not only to their own well-being but also to the well-being of the entire family. In addition to health and functional challenges, women with disabilities encounter significant social and systemic barriers, including oppression and discrimination. Mothers with disabilities, particularly those from marginalized communities, often face compounding stigma and unjust assumptions about their ability to parent. While the sociopolitical and attitudinal context surrounding mothering with a disability is deeply rooted in oppressive gender discrimination and anti-disability sentiments, modern society’s emphasis on “intensive mothering” has exacerbated maternal isolation, worsened mental health, and reinforced harmful stereotypes of women with disabilities. As a result, mothers with disabilities often lack support in personal, social, and environmental domains. While the importance of addressing postpartum mental health has gained more attention in recent years, there remains a distinct need to address the unique challenges faced by mothers with disabilities, who may require tailored forms of support. Occupational therapy, with its holistic focus on meaningful activities such as parenting, offers a promising approach to helping mothers with disabilities navigate these challenges and engage more fully in their roles as parents. This proposed study addresses the critical and unmet needs of women with physical, intellectual, sensory, psychiatric, and/or cognitive disabilities in the United States, with a specific focus on their experiences with postpartum mental health disorders. It aims to explore the intersection of motherhood, disability, and postpartum mental health, as well as to understand the strengths and resilience of mothers with disabilities. Specifically, this study will address the following research questions: Question 1: How do mothers with disabilities experience the dynamic interaction between disability, motherhood, and postpartum mental health? Question 2: How do mothers with disabilities with postpartum mental health challenges understand the role that individual and systemic factors play in shaping their experiences? Question 3: What strengths, challenges and support needs of mothers with disabilities who are experiencing mental health challenges? Guided by a feminist disability studies framework, this study will employ a constructivist grounded theory approach to capture the nuanced experiences of maternal mental health challenges among mothers with disabilities. In line with this methodological approach, an initial sample of mothers with disabilities who have a history of postpartum mood disorders will be recruited. Data will be gathered through two intensive interviews, followed by comparison and analysis to identify key themes. The study will then discuss the main findings and their potential contributions to the field of occupational therapy in supporting this population. Additionally, it will address important ethical considerations and explore how the results can impact healthcare services, with a focus on future research, evidence-based interventions, and social supports aimed at enhancing pregnancy and maternal health outcomes for women with disabilities.
