THE INVISIBLE PSYCHOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE HOME: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND BOUNDARY SETTING AS DETERMINANTS OF MATERNAL RESILIENCE

Abstract

Maternal resilience—the capacity of mothers to adapt to the emotional, social, and practical demands of parenting—has emerged as a central construct in contemporary positive psychology and family research. While the visible aspects of parenting often receive scholarly attention, the internal psychological resources that sustain maternal functioning remain less explored. This conceptual article proposes that emotional intelligence and boundary setting constitute an “invisible psychological infrastructure” within the home that supports maternal resilience and psychological well-being. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature from positive psychology, parenting research, emotional regulation theory, and family systems theory, the article synthesizes existing empirical findings and develops a conceptual framework that explains how emotional intelligence facilitates adaptive emotional regulation and interpersonal functioning, while boundary-setting protects psychological resources and prevents role overload. The interaction between these two constructs is proposed to strengthen maternal resilience by enabling mothers to balance caregiving responsibilities with personal well-being. The paper also discusses practical implications for parenting support programs, psychological interventions, and future research directions. Understanding these internal psychological mechanisms is essential for promoting maternal well-being and fostering healthy family environments. The article also introduces a conceptual model that illustrates the dynamic interaction among emotional intelligence, boundary setting, and maternal resilience.