Pakeha women's concurrent experience of recovery and motherhood

Abstract

The experience of women who are in recovery and are mothers has been minimally studied, and in New Zealand, not at all. This small qualitative study explores the key issues related to the concurrent experience of recovery and motherhood for Pakeha women, by using the method photovoice, a participatory means of sharing expertise and knowledge. Participants produced photographic images to communicate life experiences and perceptions, and engaged in a group process that facilitated critical thinking about the factors and forces influencing their lives, creating an analytical perspective from which to relate their situations to root causes. Engaging in holistic activities such as spiritual practices, art and creativity, and connecting with nature, were common factors that supported recovery. They facilitated a sense of connection, belonging and identity, as social isolation was still a key issue, a factor not often linked with recovery. Participation in work and peer support organisations was an important strategy used to counter social isolation. Whilst participation in these settings supported recovery, they did not provide the support needed to balance recovery, work and the parenting role, a key issue facing the women in this study. This highlights the importance of having supportive adults in one's home environment as the absence of such, at times, compromised the maintenance of recovery. Therefore having access to informal social networks and supports could potentially provide such help. However, this study found, that the experience of insular-ness that the participants felt within their Pakeha culture, and subsequent feelings of not belonging, or fitting in, often prevents such access, and is therefore a barrier to recovery.