Islamic lifestyle with a focus on health

Islamic lifestyle with a focus on health

Reconsidering Maternal Responsibility: The Role of Existential-Cognitive Group Counseling in Accepting the Challenges of Motherhood

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohamad Zarei 1
Samaneh Najarpourian 2
Abdolvahab Samavi 3
1 PhD Student in Counseling,University of hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Counseling Department,University of hormozgan , Bandar Abbas, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Educational SciencesUniversity of hormozgan, , Bandar Abbas, Iran
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-existential group counseling in reducing the fear of motherhood responsibility and increasing the acceptance of this responsibility in working women without children.

Methods and Materials: The research utilized a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test, including an experimental group, a control group, and a follow-up phase. The study population consisted of married working women without children in Golpayegan city during the years 2023-2024. After initial screening and identifying individuals who required further intervention, 30 participants were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The intervention consisted of 8 sessions of cognitive-existential group counseling. The dependent variable was assessed using the "Fear of Responsibility and Difficulty" subscale from the Attitudes Toward Parenthood Questionnaire.

Results: The results of the analysis of covariance indicated that cognitive-existential group counseling significantly reduced the fear of motherhood responsibility in the experimental group. Additionally, the follow-up results demonstrated the continuation of the intervention's effects in this group.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that cognitive-existential group counseling can help reduce the fear of motherhood responsibility and, consequently, increase the acceptance of this responsibility in working women without children.
Keywords
Group Counseling
Cognitive-Existential Counseling
Maternal Responsibility
Working Women Without Children
  1. Moshfegh P, Moradi-Thani G, Hosseinkhani H. An analysis of the relationship between employment and fertility intention among employed women on the verge of marriage in the provinces of Iran. Population (Jamiat). 2017 Mar 25;95(23):1-24. (Persian)
  2. Isaacs NZ, Andipatin MG. A systematic review regarding women’s emotional and psychological experiences of high-risk pregnancies. BMC psychology. 2020 Dec; 8:1-1.
  3. Sevón E. Maternal responsibility and changing relationality at the beginning of motherhood. University of Jyväskylä; 2009.
  4. Zhang J, Gong X. How does environmental quality perception influence people's fertility intention? Evidence from China. Australian Economic Papers. 2023 Jun;62(2):272-96.
  5. Budds K. Validating social support and prioritizing maternal wellbeing: beyond intensive mothering and maternal responsibility. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 2021 Jun 21;376(1827):20200029.
  6. Deshpande PS, Gupta AS. Causes and prevalence of factors causing infertility in a public health facility. Journal of human reproductive sciences. 2019 Oct 1;12(4):287-93.
  7. Rezvani SZ, Rezaian H. Criticism and Analysis of the Psychological Reasons of Utilitarians on Childbearing. Ethical Reflections. 2022;4(3):103-130. (Persian)
  8. Kissane D. Beyond the psychotherapy and survival debate: the challenge of social disparity, depression and treatment adherence in psychosocial cancer care. Psycho‐Oncology: Journal of the Psychological, Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Cancer. 2009 Jan;18(1):1-5.
  9. Heidenreich T, Noyon A, Worrell M, Menzies R. Existential approaches and cognitive behavior therapy: Challenges and potential. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy. 2021 Mar; 14:209-34.
  10. Feizi M, Kamali Z, Gholami M, Abadi BA, Moeini S. The effectiveness of existential psychotherapy on attitude to life and self-flourishing of educated women homemakers. Journal of Education and Health Promotion. 2019 Jan 1;8(1):237.
  11. Alidousti H, Hariri S, Safarian. Fertility intention in Kermanshah: Determinants and limitations. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Social Sciences. 2023 Mar 24;43(20):83-109. (Persian)
  12. Zarei, M. Najjarpourian, S. & Samavi, A. (2025). Qualitative exploration of the attitudes towards childbearing in childless working women. Journal of Family Relations Studies, 5 (2), 64–73.
  13. Zarei M, Najarpourian S, Samavi A. Development and validation of the Attitude Toward Childbearing Scale (ATCHS) in childless working women. (In press).