When One Does Not Want to Be Like Others. The Basis of the Sense of Control among Conservative Laestadian Mothers with Large Families

Authors

• Leena Pesälä

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23979/fypr.45003

Keywords:

Conservative Laestadianism, personal faith, sense of control, life management, large families, life span of a family, Finland

Abstract

Large families are the most characteristic feature of the Conservative Laestadian
revivalist movement. In this research project belonging to the ? eld of psychology my
aim is to describe the facts on which the sense of control of the Laestadian mothers
with large families is based. My research method is a qualitative contents analysis.
The results indicate that the mothers personal faith is the most important element in
their sense of control. The values based on the Conservative Laestadian beliefs give
a clear and safe structure for life. The most important role of the spouse is to support
his wife emotionally, socially and spiritually. Behind the active parenthood of the
mothers are the life management skills acquired in their families of origin as well as
the experience acquired from motherhood. Family members share both mental and
physical responsibilities, consequently supporting the mother. The mothers did not
experience that they should not behave according to the family planning practises
characteristic of our time. They do not want to be like others.