The Relationship between Third Places and Life Career Resilience among Women with Career Interruptions

Abstract

This exploratory study examined the relationship between third place utilization and life career resilience（LCR）among women who had experienced a period of career interruption. The participants were 400 currently employed women who had taken a career break lasting between 3 months and 10 years; of these, 91 were identified as third place users. First, the relationship between third place use and LCR was analyzed using t-tests and propensity score matching, but no significant differences were observed. However, multiple regression analysis revealed that certain psychological and social characteristics of third places—such as opportunities for skill acquisition, trial-and-error experiences, and a sense of community vitality and attachment—had significant positive effects on specific components of LCR. In contrast, characteristics reflecting interpersonal interactions with strong influence over others were negatively associated with multiple LCR components. These findings suggest that the psychological and social features of third places may exert both positive and negative influences on LCR among women who have experienced career interruptions.