2021 Volume 28 Issue 1 Pages 15-25
Objectives: The purpose of this study is to empirically clarify the correlation between the work engagement, recovery experience, and self-efficacy of working mothers to find effective ways of improving parental support systems.
Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among 1,702 mothers whose infants attended a licensed day-care center in the city of A in the Kanto region. Existing scales were used to measure work-engagement, recovery experience, and self-efficacy, and the relationship between these scales was examined by structural equation modeling.
Results: Of 653 questionnaire response forms collected, 570 with no incomplete answers (valid response rate 33.5%) were analyzed. The mean age of the mothers was 35.6±4.8 years. Structural equation modeling using path diagrams assuming interrelationships among the three scales showed that the goodness of fit was generally good. Although significant positive associations were found between the three scales, the associations between work engagement and recovery experience, and between recovery experience and self-efficacy were very weak.
Conclusion: As the current Recovery Experience Questionnaire (REQ) was created with general workers in mind, there is a possibility that it may not properly reflect the experience of working mothers. Recovering from the stresses associated with work is an important experience that helps to maintain and improve physical and mental health. It is thought that gauging the recovery experience of working mothers more appropriately will lead to the development of more comprehensive support systems.
