COPING WITH MOTHERHOOD: THE ROLE OF MOBILE PHONES FOR FIRST TIME MOTHERS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

This study endeavours to understand first-time mothers’ (FTMs) use of the mobile phone, and of how it impacts Singaporean FTMs’ experience of motherhood. Subsequently, this study adopted Skinner and colleagues’ (2003) coping strategies of distraction, problem solving, support seeking, avoidance and cognitive restructuring, as its main framework for analysis. Through this study, four out of five of the coping strategies by Skinner and colleagues (2003) were shown to have more functional and constructive elements, where the framework would therefore, be extended. This is followed by an investigation on how the FTM within the Singapore’s socio-economic context, is able to carry out her mothering role, through her mobile phone. Distinctive findings unique to the Singaporean FTMs mobile phone usage context include; there was mothering by an elder (grand)mother, checking-in with the spouse, mothering as influenced by cultural and religious beliefs, and perpetual mothering despite being away from the child.