Examination of the relationship between lifestyle and social support on women's maternal identity(Case study: Women in Isfahan)

A study of the history of Iran shows that the issue of motherhood and the extent to which it can affect a woman's social status and status has not been much discussed and in-depth and methodical research has not been done. Maternal identity is a neglected issue whose dimensions are unknown. The status and manner of maternal identity depends on recognizing the elements and conditions of identity building. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between lifestyle and social support with maternal identity among women in Isfahan. The study is a quantitative and descriptive-correlational survey. The sample size was 667 people and using quota sampling, the population share of each region of Isfahan was determined and married women in each region were randomly selected. A researcher-made questionnaire with confirmed face validity and reliability was used to collect information. Data analysis was performed by correlation and structural equation modeling. Findings show that women's maternal identity is at a moderate to high level (average 3.6 out of 5). The lifestyle of most women is semi-traditional / modern. The results of the structural model indicate that lifestyle and social support can predict 34% of changes in maternal identity. Education is indirectly related to maternal identity and the age variable has no significant relationship with maternal identity. Although maternal identity is a choice among women, it can be said that despite the independence of women's identity, it is still another identity, namely the child as an element of identity for women.