Changes in the Well-Being of Foreign Language Speaking Migrant Mothers Living in Finland during the Initial Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Eveliina Heino (), Hanna Kara and Camilla Nordberg
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Eveliina Heino: Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Hanna Kara: Department of Education and Welfare Studies, Åbo Akademi University, 65100 Vaasa, Finland
Camilla Nordberg: Department of Education and Welfare Studies, Åbo Akademi University, 65100 Vaasa, Finland

Social Sciences, 2024, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: This article examines changes in the well-being of foreign-language-speaking migrant mothers living in Finland during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. Our data consist of 73 mothers’ responses to a qualitative survey conducted between 18 April and 26 May 2020. In our analysis, we employ the division of well-being into three dimensions: having, loving, and being. According to our results, the participating mothers experienced dramatic changes, such as an increased burden of care and domestic work, difficulties helping children with remote studies, health concerns, a lack of free time, isolation from Finnish society and the inability to travel to their country of origin. Family-centered activities helped the mothers to cope in this situation but also caused strains. Based on our findings, we discuss the vulnerabilities these mothers experienced in relation to language, migration background and gender roles.

Keywords: COVID-19; foreign language speaking mothers; migrants; well-being; Finland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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