Motherhood, role conflict, and identity: South African mothers' experiences amid a pandemic

This qualitative study aimed to explore and describe the role conflict that working South African mothers experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to their maternal and work roles and examine the mothers' descriptions and experiences of their individual and maternal identities. The phenomenon of work-life conflict is not new; however, the COVID-19 pandemic provided new research opportunities since the lockdown restrictions created unprecedented working and living circumstances within the home environment. Work-life conflict was explored within the context of motherhood and its subsequent role fulfilment, gaining a deeper understanding of the experience and integration of maternal and individual identities.Semi-structured interviews with nine mothers were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analyses revealed that mothers experienced increased role conflict during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants emphasized that they experienced particular challenges, including social isolation, limited time for self-care, re-evaluations of work and maternal roles, and subsequent influences on their personal and maternal identities. This study provides insight into the complexities and nuanced experiences of mothers' work and family conflict within the unknowns and uncertainty of an overwhelming pandemic.