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Motherhood study gains strong response
A study to determine how women feel about being mothers and what support services they need has gained so much momentum it has surprised even the two researchers involved.
University of the Sunshine Coast psychology academic Dr Angela Huntsman and parenting advice author Jodie Hedley-Ward launched an online survey on May 10 aimed at gaining 400 respondents in both New Zealand and Australia.
That number was achieved within one day, and so far thousands of mothers from across the two countries have completed the anonymous questionnaire at www.motherhoodstudy.net.
The survey, which takes about 20-30 minutes to complete, includes questions on how mothers feel about their current situation, their outlook for the future, whether they think they are doing a good job as mothers, what level of support they receive, and how they care for themselves.
Dr Huntsman and Mrs Hedley-Ward are delighted with the strong response so far and hope many more mothers will take part in the survey over the next few months.
The researchers intend to produce the definitive study of motherhood in Australia and New Zealand, one that will inform policy makers and practitioners on how to improve the provision of services to mothers.
“The thoughts and feelings in this survey will go far to help us define, drive and change the way we understand and support mothers,” Dr Huntsman said.
“Most politicians are not mothers and they make decisions based on data. I’d like our research to become a resource that informs government. This survey will provide the data so we can say ‘Here’s what mothers need’.”
Dr Huntsman said she also wanted to use the survey data to test out some hypotheses, including a proposition that mothers in regional areas required greater levels of support.
“Relatedness – often described as connectedness – is most likely to be an issue in regional areas like the Sunshine Coast as many people have moved here away from family support,” she said.
Dr Huntsman holds a PhD in clinical psychology and is a California licensed/American Psychological Association accredited clinical psychologist as well as a Queensland registered psychologist and full member of the Australia Psychological Society (APS) and the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.
She has been a clinical psychologist for 17 years, specialising in evaluation and assessment within individual, family, government and organisational settings, and within private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
Mrs Hedley-Ward recently wrote the inspirational parenting advice book, You Sexy Mother, which focuses on self-perception, self-respect and the importance of relationships for mothers.
She holds a Master of Business Marketing degree and a Graduate Diploma in Management from Otago University in New Zealand. She has previously conducted research into the marketing of clothing for plus-size women.
The researchers plan to extend the survey to the United States and the United Kingdom later this year and then further afield, including countries where there is zero or negative population growth.
— Terry Walsh