Divergent social support patterns: A phenomenological exploration of intergenerational interaction between primiparas and two extended family groups in the Chinese postpartum cultural context

Abstract Background Existing quantitative studies mostly adopt generalized indicators to evaluate social support and mental health status among postpartum women. But they generally overlook concrete interaction contexts and the implicit, complex intergenerational relationships between primiparas and their two extended family systems. They also fail to distinguish essential differences regarding manifestations, underlying mechanisms, and women’ s subjective experiences of support deficits arising from these two extended families. Furthermore, they do not adequately incorporate the profound shaping effects of local cultural norms on behavioural patterns, expressive styles, and accessibility of support within both family systems. This study grounded in Chinese family norms explores primiparas’ lived intergenerational experiences. It elaborates the distinct forms of inadequate support originating from the two extended family systems and unpacks the underlying cultural mechanisms, yielding important implications for obstetric and postnatal care practice. Methods A descriptive phenomenological study design was applied in this study. Semi-structured interview interviews were conducted with 29 primiparas from two community health centers and one tertiary hospital in Xi’an city, Shaanxi province. Each conversation lasted between 33–75 min. Colaizzi’s seven-steps phenomenological approach was utilized for data analysis. This study was reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). Findings Two main themes and eleven interrelated sub-themes emerged from the data. The themes described psychosocial stressors for postpartum primiparas embedded within intergenerational relationships with extended-family members, alongside divergent patterns of perceived inadequate support from parents-in-law and natal parents. Conclusion Primiparas experience distinct interpersonal stressors and differentiated insufficient postpartum support from paternal and maternal extended families. Support deficits from parents in-law are characterised by active, confrontational, authority‑oriented deprivation, whereas inadequate support from natal parents manifests as passive, recessive withdrawal shaped by compromise. These intergenerational relational tensions and divergent support gaps are driven by indigenous Chinese cultural factors including patriarchal hierarchical norms, traditional postpartum confinement norms, son-preference resource allocation, filial piety ethics, and role constraints for married daughters. The findings deepen understanding of intergenerational interaction mechanisms and and provide evidence for obstetric nurses and midwives to deliver culturally informed family centred postpartum care, mitigate support-related risks, and promote primiparas’ postpartum mental well-being.