Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Humanities, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Psychology & Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Khatam University, Tehran, Iran
3 Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and midwifery, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Abstract
Background If puberty begins earlier than the normal age, the child experiences precocious puberty, which is associated with worries and challenges for the mother as the primary caregiver of the child. The present study aimed to identify mothers' experiences of their children's precocious puberty.
Methods The data in this qualitative-descriptive phenomenological study were collected through semi-structured interviews. The participants in this study were mothers with female children who experienced puberty before the age of 8 or mothers with male children who experienced the symptoms of puberty before the age of 9. The participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling in 2023 in Tehran. The data were saturated after interviewing 25 mothers. The collected data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method.
Results The mothers' experiences of their child's precocious puberty can be divided into 4 main themes: “experiencing extreme surprise and confusion”, “mothers' experiences of the child’s psychological and physical reactions”, “mothers' self-imposed isolation” and “informing, preparation, and training of parents as the key to overcoming precocious puberty”.
Conclusion Getting help from doctors, nurses, midwives, and health counselors, reading related books, and using new information to understand the world of puberty can enhance the patience and tolerance of mothers to help their children overcome the challenges associated with precocious puberty.
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