title: Maternal coping during early motherhood among first-time Chinese mothers.
abstract: This qualitative study explored the coping strategies used by first-time Hong Kong Chinese mothers in adjusting to the demands of early motherhood. A purposive sample of 26 first-time Chinese mothers who had participated in a childbirth psycho-education program was interviewed in-depth at six weeks postpartum in respect to their coping strategies. Two main categories emerged: making personalized and achievable decisions and seeking emotional and spiritual solace. Implications for health professionals are discussed, including the need to support individual women's personal resources and foster social networks to optimize maternal and infant health.
authors.affiliation: University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. fwngai@hku.hk
authors.forename: Fei-Wan
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Ngai
authors.forename: Sally Wai-Chi
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holroyd
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008016:Life Change Events; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*