The purpose of this study was to identify factors related to adaptation to combining maternal and occupational roles in working mothers. In this study, adaptation was measured by fatigue, role conflict, role satisfaction, and anxiety about child care. The independent variables were background and work-related factors, individual perceptions, and coping with two roles. These variables were guided by the stress and coping framework of Lazarus and Folkman.Our survey was answered by 218 working mothers of preschool children.
The results were as follows:
1. The scores for fatigue, role conflict, and anxiety about child care had significantly positive associations with each other. Moreover, they had significantly inverse associations with the score for role satisfaction.
2. 1) Background and Work-Related Factors: Working hours had significantly positive associations with the score for role conflict.
2) Individual Perceptions and Coping:
Highly career-oriented mothers reported significantly lower scores for role conflict and anxiety about child care. However, they had a significantly higher score for role satisfaction than less career-oriented mothers. The score for social support had significantly inverse associations with the scores for fatigue and anxiety about child care. The score for passive problem-focused coping had a significantly positive association with the scores for fatigue, role conflict, and anxiety about child care. However, the association was negative in regard to role satisfaction.
These findings suggest that it is important to assess the various ways in which working mothers perceive and cope with their dual roles.
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