The transition to motherhood represents one of the most demanding life changes, involving adaptation to a new identity, role, and responsibilities that it brings. Motherhood is not only a biological process, but also a complex transition into a new life stage, which requires women to adjust on psychological, social and economic level. Societal norms often idealize motherhood as a natural and fulfilling experience, yet research shows that many mothers face feelings of loneliness, anxiety and sadness, and report emotional exhaustion, stress and a loss of identity. In the theoretical part of this thesis, I highlighted the connection with the life-span development paradigm (LSD), transition theory (Schlossberg) and the ecological systems theory (Bronfenbrenner), which help to explain motherhood as a dynamic and multidimensional process influenced by various socio-cultural factors. In the empirical part of the thesis, I conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of five first-time mothers who gave birth to their first child within the past year. The focus of the research is on the psychological challenges of early motherhood, such as feelings of loneliness, anxiety, overwhelm, and identity loss. Crucial protective factors that help mothers cope with stress and prevent psychological and emotional distress are support systems, including partners, family, healthcare professionals and the broader social community. This research contributes to a better understanding of mothers' needs and offers insight into effective strategies and opportunities for improving social pedagogical work in this field.
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