Parental stress, coping strategies, and maternal quality of life in urban Tanzania: A mixed-methods study
- 1College of Nursing, Daegu University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- 2Department of Child and Family Welfare, Daegu University, Gyeongsan-si, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Purpose: Maternal quality of life (QoL) is influenced by psychosocial and socioeconomic challenges, particularly in low-resource settings. However, little is known about how parental stress and coping strategies affect maternal well-being in Tanzania. This study examined the relationships among parental stress, coping strategies, and QoL among mothers living in Kigamboni, Tanzania, using a convergent mixed-methods approach. Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design was employed, combining quantitative survey data from 186 mothers with qualitative interviews involving nine stakeholders, including parents, educators, and local government officials. The survey assessed parental stress, coping strategies, and QoL. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression analyses. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies were associated with better QoL. In contrast, avoidant coping was negatively associated with maternal well-being. Several sociodemographic factors, including having a child with a disability, lower paternal education, lower household wealth, and single parenthood, were associated with higher levels of parental stress and maladaptive coping. Although parental stress showed a negative bivariate association with quality of life, it did not remain a significant independent predictor in the multivariable model. Qualitative findings identified three major themes: (1) parenting stress as a daily struggle, (2) adaptive and strained coping strategies, and (3) structural and cultural barriers to maternal well-being. Participants described chronic financial hardship, emotional exhaustion, social stigma toward disability, and limited formal and informal support systems as important influences on maternal QoL. Conclusion: Maternal quality of life in Tanzania is shaped by the interplay between psychosocial factors and broader social and structural conditions. The integrated findings suggest that improving maternal well-being requires multilevel interventions that strengthen adaptive coping resources while addressing parenting-related stress and broader contextual barriers.
Related
- Radiographers’ turnover in Tanzania: a mixed-methods protocol on predictors, intentions and retention strategies
- Maternal obesity, neonatal complications, and childhood wheezing in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a multicenter study
- Accessibility of essential medicines and vaccines among fisherfolk, artisanal miners and pastoralists in Mainland Tanzania: a qualitative study of barriers and strategies from the perspectives of healthcare professionals and community leaders.
- The Long Road to Care: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Referral Delays for Pediatric Injury Patients in Northern Tanzania
- Parental preferences for risk communication during pediatric infectious disease outbreaks: a mixed-methods study from the netherlands
BibTeX
@article{oh2026parental,
title = {{Parental stress, coping strategies, and maternal quality of life in urban Tanzania: A mixed-methods study}},
author = {Hye-Kyung Oh and Boram Lee},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0358956},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358956},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Parental stress, coping strategies, and maternal quality of life in urban Tanzania: A mixed-methods study
AU - Hye-Kyung Oh
AU - Boram Lee
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/25
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0358956
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358956
AB - Purpose: Maternal quality of life (QoL) is influenced by psychosocial and socioeconomic challenges, particularly in low-resource settings. However, little is known about how parental stress and coping strategies affect maternal well-being in Tanzania. This study examined the relationships among parental stress, coping strategies, and QoL among mothers living in Kigamboni, Tanzania, using a convergent mixed-methods approach. Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design was employed, combining quantitative survey data from 186 mothers with qualitative interviews involving nine stakeholders, including parents, educators, and local government officials. The survey assessed parental stress, coping strategies, and QoL. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression analyses. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies were associated with better QoL. In contrast, avoidant coping was negatively associated with maternal well-being. Several sociodemographic factors, including having a child with a disability, lower paternal education, lower household wealth, and single parenthood, were associated with higher levels of parental stress and maladaptive coping. Although parental stress showed a negative bivariate association with quality of life, it did not remain a significant independent predictor in the multivariable model. Qualitative findings identified three major themes: (1) parenting stress as a daily struggle, (2) adaptive and strained coping strategies, and (3) structural and cultural barriers to maternal well-being. Participants described chronic financial hardship, emotional exhaustion, social stigma toward disability, and limited formal and informal support systems as important influences on maternal QoL. Conclusion: Maternal quality of life in Tanzania is shaped by the interplay between psychosocial factors and broader social and structural conditions. The integrated findings suggest that improving maternal well-being requires multilevel interventions that strengthen adaptive coping resources while addressing parenting-related stress and broader contextual barriers.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -