Learning to thrive through autonomy: a thematic analysis of the role of recalled parental autonomy in the transition to motherhood

Abstract Becoming a mother requires the continual redefinition of current self-identity. This can be challenging for women who struggle being autonomous due to unfulfilled core emotional needs from early interactions with primary caregivers. Existing literature on the impact of early experiences on motherhood is largely quantitative and focuses on adverse childhood experiences and broad parenting constructs. Informed by the findings of our quantitative study (Leong et al., 2024), this secondary predominately qualitative study explored primiparous mothers’ perceptions of both adverse and positive experiences of parental autonomy, and how they draw upon those experiences in early motherhood. The sample comprised 15 first-time mothers in their first-year post-birth, aged 18–36, recruited in Singapore from a large mixed-method study which examined the impact of early experiences of being parented on postnatal mental health. Referencing specific interactions on the Positive Parenting Schema Inventory (PPSI; Louis et al., 2020a) and the Young Parenting Inventory Revised (YPI-R2; Louis et al., 2018), semi-structured interviews were conducted with the mothers on their perceptions of parental autonomy and how those experiences impacted their parenting style, sense of competence and postnatal mental health. Interview transcripts were analysed drawing upon guidelines and principles of reflexive thematic analysis. Three broad themes were generated; (i) making sense of autonomy; (ii) learning to thrive through autonomy; and (iii) striving for balance through autonomy. The findings highlight the instrumental role of parental autonomy and culture in the transition to motherhood and inform the design and implementation of postnatal mental health services, parenting programmes and future research.