Entre la sobrecarga y el afecto: significados del rol materno en mujeres madres en contextos de vulnerabilidad social

This study explored the perceptions of women mothers regarding their experiences in the maternal role within a context of social vulnerability in the neighborhood of Lomas de la Laguna, Nayarit. A qualitative approach was adopted, using a phenomenological design with an exploratory scope. Six mothers with family and work responsibilities participated, selected through non-probabilistic voluntary sampling. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, field diaries, and home visits, and analyzed using thematic content analysis. The findings revealed four main categories: emotional overload and psychosomatic symptoms, affective bonding and gratifying motherhood, structural conditions and social vulnerability, and mother–child emotional dependence. Results show high levels of stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbances associated with economic precariousness and limited support networks, while the emotional bond with children functions as a protective factor and a source of meaning. The study concludes that motherhood in vulnerable contexts is a complex experience that requires comprehensive psychosocial interventions.