The road to motherhood: Role satisfaction in the context of parenthood motivations and marital satisfaction

Motherhood is not merely a biological transformation in a woman's life; it is also a profound transitional process encompassing emotional, social, and identity-related dimensions. This study aims to explore the relationship between women's marital satisfaction and their motivations for childbearing with their overall satisfaction in the maternal role. In addition, it investigates whether maternal role satisfaction varies significantly across certain demographic variables. The research was conducted using a quantitative method and correlational survey design. The sample consisted of 364 mothers residing in Turkey, each having their first child between the ages of 0 and 6. Data were collected using the "Maternal Role Satisfaction Scale," the "Motivations for Childbearing Scale," and the "Relationship Satisfaction Scale." The data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0, with descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses applied. Findings revealed that stay-at-home mothers and those with planned pregnancies reported significantly higher levels of maternal role satisfaction. Furthermore, mothers with primary or secondary education were found to be more satisfied in their maternal roles compared to those with a university degree. A strong and positive correlation was observed between maternal role satisfaction and marital satisfaction, while a moderate and positive correlation was identified between maternal role satisfaction and positive motivations for childbearing. Conversely, negative motivations for having children were not found to significantly impact maternal role satisfaction. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that marital satisfaction was the strongest predictor of maternal role satisfaction.