Rx Stimulants and U.S. Motherhood: Pharmaceutical Strategies for Managing Work-Family Conflict

• In Event: Family Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 7: Families and Health

Abstract

In the absence of a system of policies and practices that support work-family balance, U.S. mothers are required to individually resolve their time, energy, and resource bind. Previous research has noted that reliance on chemical substances is an individual-level response that enables mothers to cope, escape, and/or meet the demands and challenges of motherhood. This research examines the ways in which middle-upper class mothers use prescription stimulants (e.g. Adderall) to support the accomplishment of intensive motherhood. Qualitative design includes content analysis of two types of data: 1) survey data gathered from mothers with a stimulant Rx and 2) social media posts scraped from Reddit in which mothers discuss the intersection of their prescription stimulant use and parenting. Results highlight that Rx stimulants support mothers in meeting the demands of both careers and intensive motherhood, while simultaneously reproducing social privileges and avoiding stigmas attached to substance use. The implications for maternal health and for increasing inequality are also explored.

Author

• Nazneen Khan, Randolph-Macon College