Exploring the social support experience of mothers of very preterm infants during the first year after discharge: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Mothers of very preterm infants (VPIs) acting as the main caregivers face substantial ongoing psychological and physical challenges during the first postdischarge year, which can adversely affect the infants' neurodevelopment and family stability. Social support is a key protective factor in physical and mental health. However, evidence on Chinese mothers' subjective experiences of social support remains limited. This study explores the social support experiences of Chinese mothers of VPIs. METHODS: This qualitative descriptive study recruited mothers of VPIs discharged from the neonatology department of a university hospital between July 2025 and September 2025. Using purposive sampling, semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 mothers. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and reporting followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative checklist. FINDINGS: Three themes with eight subthemes emerged. The first theme functionally differentiated sources of social support, including emotional support in intimate relationships, informational support based on professional knowledge and experience, instrumental support from family members, and appraisal support from multiple sources. The second theme, duality of support, captured both positive and negative perceptions. The third theme, factors influencing support acquisition, comprised internal inhibition and external constraints. CONCLUSION: Mothers of VPIs receive various forms of social support within the first postdischarge year; however, their perceived experiences may be contradictory. Both personal and contextual factors shape support access. Clinical teams should prioritize mothers whose access to support is constrained by both internal and external factors. In addition, social support measures should shift from ensuring support availability to optimizing support quality.