ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the concept of the wellbeing of mothers in the Australian context and what this means for children and families. It examines the wellbeing of three special populations of mothers with whom social workers often work and who encounter greater challenges to their wellbeing: mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder, mothers with a mental illness, and young mothers. Wellbeing is often used as an umbrella term to describe a variety of dimensions, such as happiness, enhanced positive emotion and decreased negative emotion, satisfaction with life, and resilience. The index measures satisfaction with one's health, personal relationships, safety, standard of living, personal achievements, community involvement and future security. The impact of maternal wellbeing in the early years on children has been examined at various times throughout the lifespan. Social workers use a family systems approach to better understand the functioning of the family and its impact on their clients.
