Evolving meaning from being pregnant and becoming a new mother over the period of a major earthquake: A grounded theory study

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the experience of women who were pregnant and gave birth over the period of a major earthquake, and the roles and dynamics of family in relation to the health of these women. Constructivist grounded theory (GT) method was used for this study. Twenty-two women and two men were recruited through the beginning purposive and subsequent theoretical sampling strategies. The constant comparative analysis was guided by coding practice of the constructivist GT approach. The disturbance of life due to earthquake gradually relieved after the disaster, which was represented by the process of women’s ‘being disrupted’, ‘alleviating disturbances’, and ‘growing up’. ‘Being there of the family members’ is a mutual need between women and their families, which strengthened psychological recovering of the women. ‘Instilling love and hope by the baby’ is a buffer for alleviating stress and also a motivator for growing up of women. ‘Changing values’, which is developed under the comprehensive action of ‘being disrupted’, ‘being there of the family members’, and ‘love and hope instilled by the baby’, essentially reinforce the new worldviews and coping of the pregnant women. It is overall the ‘evolving meaning’ which represents the process of how these women recovered and attained their meaning of lives and stay healthy after the disaster.