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NARRATIVES OF UNIVERSITY MOTHERS: (SURVIVAL) EXPERIENCES IN THE POST-PANDEMIC PERIOD.

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20873/vol13n120264

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic represented a turning point for society in general, which had to reinvent itself and adapt to a new way of life. For women, the risks of suffering psychological disorders were more pronounced, as were those for their children and adolescents. Our reflections include the ethical-political dimension of the experience of motherhood, since it is based on social and institutional expectations. This is a qualitative study that is part of the research project “Mental health care for university mothers in the context of COVID-19” by the Gestalt Therapy Research Group of the Psychology course at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA). Its objective was to understand the experience of students in the context of COVID-19 and the post-pandemic period.  The data analysis was based on Amedeo Giorgi's phenomenological methodology (1985) and field theory from Gestalt therapy. Subsequently, the following units were separated: 1) Maternal overload. 2) Maternal role x university life. 3) Social isolation. 4) University permanence. It should be noted that the University lacks effective planning and public policies aimed at welcoming and retaining these women. In this sense, spaces for listening and mobilization to guarantee rights were considered indicators of well-being and promoters of health.

Author Biographies

Maria Vitória Rocha de Jesus, Universidade Federal do Pará

Maria Vitória Rocha de Jesus, 10th semester psychology student at the Federal University of Pará, Guamá Campus. Member of the Gestalt Therapy Research Center (NPTG). She was a Volunteer Scholar (PIVIC) in the project “Meanings and senses of motherhood for university mothers after social isolation in the context of Covid-19” (2023-2024); CNPQ Scientific Initiation Scholarship (PIBIC) in the project “Covid-19 pandemic, UNICEF in Brazil, and family relationships from 2020 to 2022” (2024-2025), Volunteer in the project “Phenomenological existential reflective group for university mothers.” (2024-2025) and participated in the Child Health Care Training Program - Multicampi Saúde (ICS-UFPA) (2024).

Kamilly Souza do Vale, Universidade Federal do Pará

Kamilly Souza do Vale Professor of Psychology at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA); Professor in the Graduate Program in Psychology (PPGP/UFPA); Coordinator of the Gestalt Therapy Research Center (NPGT/UFPA), which is linked to the CNPQ directory Founder and coordinator of the Gestalt Therapy Study Group (GEGT/Re-existir). She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Amazonia (2006), a master's degree in psychology from the Federal University of Pará (2011), and a doctorate in psychology from the Federal University of Pará (2018). Researcher in the areas of Buberian phenomenology, existential phenomenological method, Gestalt therapy, conjugality, mental health of university mothers, feminisms, and intersectionalities.

Raimunda Berenice Pinheiro Cardoso, Secretaria de Estado de Educação do Pará

He holds a bachelor's degree in Portuguese and German Language from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) (1995), a specialization in Portuguese Language from UFPA (2000), a master's degree in Communication, Languages, and Culture from the University of Amazonia (UNAMA) (2014), and a doctorate in Communication, Languages, and Culture from the University of Amazonia (UNAMA) (2023). She is currently a tenured professor and works as a text editor at the Media Center of the Pará State Department of Education. She has experience in the field of Language and Literature, with an emphasis on Portuguese Language and Literature, working mainly on the following topics: Afro-Amazonian literature, blackness, and literature written by women. She is a member of the research group “Academia do Peixe Frito” (Fried Fish Academy).

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2026-02-12

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How to Cite

de Jesus, M. V. R., Souza do Vale, K., & Pinheiro Cardoso, R. B. (2026). NARRATIVES OF UNIVERSITY MOTHERS: (SURVIVAL) EXPERIENCES IN THE POST-PANDEMIC PERIOD. DESAFIOS - Revista Interdisciplinar Da Universidade Federal Do Tocantins, 13(1), 154–172. https://doi.org/10.20873/vol13n120264

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Vol. 13 No. 1 (2026): INTERFACES DO SABER

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Artigos

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Copyright (c) 2026 Maria Vitória Rocha de Jesus, Kamilly Souza do Vale; Raimunda Berenice Pinheiro Cardoso

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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