Baby Mama Syndrome: Psychosocial and Developmental Implications of an Emerging Trend
Baby Mama Syndrome: Psychosocial and Developmental Implications of an Emerging Trend

Summary/Abstract: Single parenting has taken a different turn in recent times, and it has taken a departure from the norm by consenting to be seen as a baby mama, which is a popular lifestyle in society now. The paper explores the psychological and developmental implications for the mothers and the children involved, as well as its implications for the society in which they live. A vignette was designed to explore the factors contributing to this array of lifestyles among young women. The study used a Google form to elicit responses from N(166) female students of the University of Lagos. Questions were generated from the vignette (short story) titled Achanugo, to see how women can agree to become a baby mama for material reasons. The items asked questions on morality, social expectations, family reasons, among others, on a Likert scale of 1 to 5. A question was deliberately sought for their consent to guide against ethical issues. The findings showed that a woman’s age is a factor in consent to being a baby mama; also, the level of education did not show any significant differences in the acceptance of tangible offers to become a baby mama. From our research, we found that despite the cultural shifts, baby mamas face a lot of stigmas in their society, as changes in family structure are not welcome, especially in conservative societies. We also found that children tend to have developmental challenges because of being in a single-parent home and that the mothers themselves also go through a lot of stress, both at home and as members of their society. By analysing existing literature, this study provides insights into how societal attitudes and family dynamics influence mental health, resilience, and future opportunities for individuals involved, and it offers suggestions on further research to be done and how to make the lives of baby mamas and their children easier.

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