Advancing Maternal Resilience Research: Mixed-Methods Development and Evaluation of Measures for Low-Income and Minoritized Communities

Abstract Maternal resilience is increasingly recognized as instrumental for mitigating the adverse effects of chronic stressors and structural inequities on maternal and child health (MCH). Yet, few multidimensional measures have been developed and evaluated for low-income and racially and ethnically minoritized women. This mixed-methods study builds on prior qualitative work to further conceptualize and evaluate maternal resilience measures grounded in the socio-ecological framework. A socioeconomically and racially diverse sample of 30 reproductive-aged women completed online surveys assessing intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, and institutional resilience resources, followed by in-depth, semi-structured interviews exploring how these supports helped women address stressors and were experienced across the lifecourse. Quantitative analyses identified nine resilience components, including spirituality, spending time in nature, self-love, support from partners, family, friends, neighbors, and community organizations, and professional mental health services. While participants ranked spirituality and partner support as their most important supports, they ranked community supports as the least important. Qualitative findings corroborated survey results and further elucidated multilevel pathways through which intrapersonal strengths and positive coping mechanisms (e.g., self-care, spirituality), interpersonal relationships with one’s social networks such as friends and parents, community connections such as religious community and other community groups, and professional mental health services supported women during stress. Findings advance the conceptualization and measurement of maternal resilience and highlight the need for culturally responsive, multilevel interventions and policies that strengthen proximal supports while addressing structural barriers that shape women’s capacity to thrive.