Mothering and mental health on the inside: The role of communities of support as a form of social capital for women parenting in a South African correctional facility
Bianca Rochelle Parry, Sheron Mathlatse Masekoameng, Janice K MoodleyBackground
Incarcerated women are an overlooked population in women’s health research, particularly those who are mothers. Motherhood in prison intersects with systemic disadvantage, separation from children, and restricted access to mental health resources, yet little is known about how maternal identity and peer relationships impact mental health in these contexts.
Objectives
This study investigates how motherhood functions as a source of agency and social capital among incarcerated women in South Africa, and how these relational dynamics influence their mental health. Specifically, we examine (1) how maternal responsibility motivates coping and identity re-formation and (2) how peer support networks and caregiving ties act as informal infrastructures for emotional resilience within a carceral environment.
Design
A qualitative, interpretive study guided by feminist social capital theory.
Methods
In-depth life history interviews were conducted with 25 incarcerated mothers in a South African women’s correctional facility. Data collection explored maternal identity, peer relationships, and mental health experiences. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify patterns of relational coping, support networks, and mental health impacts.
Results
Three interrelated themes emerged: (1) Motherhood as agency—women framed maternal identity as the motivation for personal transformation; (2) Mental health implications— maternal and relational resources were associated with greater resilience, yet the structural constraints of prison continued to pose significant risks to wellbeing; (3) Social capital in confinement—peer networks and co-mothering arrangements provided support that mitigated psychological distress.
Conclusion
Motherhood and relational networks function as critical sources of social capital that help incarcerated women maintain maternal identity and psychological resilience. A feminist lens reframes mothering in prison not as only a liability but as a potential locus of empowerment. These findings suggest the need for correctional policy and women’s health interventions to support peer-led networks and maternal-relational continuity as part of holistic mental health care for incarcerated mothers.