Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing Commons^™

Presenting The Good Mother: Experiences Of Canadian Adolescent Mothers Living In Rural Communities, Karen A. Campbell, Corinne Hart

The Qualitative Report

Adolescent mothers and their children are at risk for suboptimal health outcomes making adolescent motherhood a public health concern. However, the experiences of rural-living adolescent mothers are not well understood. Using Lieblich, Tuval-Mahiach, and Zilber’s (1998) narrative methodology approach, the experiential accounts of three rural-living adolescent mothers was explored. Reflecting Goffman’s (1959) presentation of self, the findings of this study revealed how adolescent mothers attempted to construct and present their notion of being a good mother, while coping with complicating rural factors. The need to present as a good mother, the lack of anonymity associated with rural living, and geographical …