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Although the return to work after maternity leave is a crucial juncture in a woman’s personal and working life, many aspects of this experience, such as maternal postpartum work resumption stress (PWRS), remain under-studied. This preregistered, longitudinal online prospective study of a convenience sample examined changes in, and determinants of, maternal PWRS during the return-to-work transition. Self-reported questionnaire data were collected from 271 mothers of infants at six time points, from two weeks before re-entry to six months afterward. Mothers reported the highest levels of PWRS at the start of the transition, followed by a linear decline over the subsequent six months. Analyses of the three sub-domains of PWRS showed that, while mothers tended to express fewer child-related concerns and reported increasing enrichment from returning to work over time, they continued to struggle with work–life balance. PWRS was associated with mothers’ psychological capital, recovery from giving birth, length of maternity leave, working hours, infant negative affectivity, and workplace support. Near-environment support and workplace flexibility, however, were not associated with PWRS. While replication of our findings is needed, they encourage further research incorporating samples from diverse backgrounds to ultimately identify optimal ways to support mothers as they rejoin the workforce postpartum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breastfeeding self-efficacy refers to mother perceived ability to breastfeed her infant and is an effective variable in breastfeeding duration. Breastfeeding offers numerous benefits for both mothers and infants, but working mothers face unique challenges that can impact breastfeeding initiation and duration. The present study was conducted to determining the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on self-efficacy theory on continuation of Breastfeeding in employed mother that referred to comprehensive health service centers in Bandar Abbas.The present quasi-experimental had a pre-test, post-test design with 3, 6 months follow-ups was conducted in Bandar Abbas city, south of Iran in December 2021-January 2023. A total of 176 women who had given birth at least 6 months before and were on maternity leave (88 in the intervention group (IG), 88 in the control group (CG)), using a two-stage cluster sampling method participated. The educational intervention focused on self-efficacy theory implemented in 13 sessions. The educational methods in the training sessions were through virtual sessions via WhatsApp (twice a week, an hour was given to exchange information and answer questions) and in-person sessions lasting 50 to 60 min (any longer than this would be tiring) in the form of lectures, focus group discussions, and questions and answers. The main outcome was to increase breastfeeding self-efficacy and continual breastfeeding behavior after coming back to work. Repeated measures ANOVA tests and post hoc were run to compare the IG and CG at baseline in terms of demographic variables, t-test and chi square test, and in the three points of time of data collection. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 25 and descriptive statistical tests, independent t test, paired t test and repeated measures analysis. In this study the self-efficacy and Breastfeeding behavior score in the intervention group (42.26 ± 8.25) were higher than in the control group (52.016 ± 6.68) and had significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.001). The intervention group showed a significant increase in the mean total Breastfeeding self-efficacy score (F 2,348=431.5, P < 0.001) and Breastfeeding behavior score (F 2,348=623.01, P < 0.001) 3, 6 months after intervention compared with the control group. Study showed that the intervention based on self-efficacy theory could help improve Breastfeeding self-efficacy and Breastfeeding behavior. The results of linear regression showed that for each unit of change in the self-efficacy score, an average of 0.198 units of change was observed 3 months after the intervention and 0.288 units of change 6 months after the intervention in Breastfeeding behavior. Another result of this study was the effect of training and reminding through virtual space, which was obtained due to the epidemic conditions caused by COVID-19, and it seems that mothers welcomed the way of providing training and this method of intervention was evident in their behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal work can be considered a double-edged sword when it comes to the health needs of children. Based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey, this study investigated the effects of maternal working hours and job type on children's physical health in rural China and attempted to disentangle the mechanisms of these effects. This study found that an increase in maternal working hours decreased the body mass index for age z-score (BAZ) of overweight children and increased the proportion of children with healthy BAZ; however, this effect was significant only for boys and resulted primarily from non-farm work. These effects may have been due to healthier daily nutritional intake of children and non-farm income increases among mothers but also may have come at the cost of a heavier housework burden on mothers. The results illustrate the importance of guaranteeing women's employment opportunities and equal income right and highlight the importance of focusing on women's joint work and family burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractResearchers aimed to determine the factors that cause the development of quiet quitting in female employees and the relationship between quiet quitting and the role of motherhood. Researchers the study is designed as a descriptive study. Researchers the study was conducted with 924 working mothers. Finding the received wages inadequate for the work performed was found to be the reason for quiet quitting in 92.2% of working mothers. The mean Quiet Quitting Symptoms Assessment Dimension (QQSAD) of the Mothers was found to be 3.94 ± 2.52, and the overall Myself as Mother Scale (MaMS) mean score was 46.16 ± 5.97. It was determined that there was a weak, significant, and negative relationship between the QQSAD and the MaMS mean scores. Researchers reveal, it was observed that many factors affected quiet quitting in working mothers, the rate of quiet quitting was high, and the acquisition of a motherhood role decreased as the symptoms of quiet quitting increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This collaborative autoethnography explores the experiences of women academics and mothers who received late diagnoses of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Due to the historical underdiagnosis of women, little research has focused on this specific demographic. We shed light on how ADHD presents in women, interweaving our stories with extant literature and emphasizing the need to understand this demographic's experiences better. This piece discusses our process of seeking diagnosis and treatment, the communicative disenfranchisement we faced, and the stigma associated with ADHD. Our narratives highlight the generational impact of ADHD, with family members often sharing our diagnosis. Through divulging our experiences, we hope to contribute to the destigmatization of ADHD, particularly for women and academics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the justifications for using the Child Home Care Allowance given by Finnish mothers with a one-year-old child, and the factors associated with these justifications. The study is based on a survey with parents, focussing on mothers with existing employment contract and spouse (n = 530). The main justification for home care of a one-year-old child was that the child is too young for out-of-home day care. Experiencing home care as the best interest of the child did not vary according to socioeconomic background. Normative views of motherhood as well as criticism towards the quality of day care was more likely among mothers with a lower occupational status. The practical difficulties of working life were more pronounced among mothers with irregular working hours. The financial unprofitability of employment as a reason for home care was related to the mother's weaker subjective health, lower socioeconomic status, and higher number of children in the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite recent increases in alcohol use among Western mid-life women, less is known about working mothers and how their competing social roles and responsibilities might influence their alcohol use. Our study unpacks how the experience of being a working mother creates particular drinking practices and meanings, and how these are influenced by cultural and societal factors. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 22 Australian women aged 36–51 years old. Women were mothers of dependent children who were employed more than 15 h per week, with most being professional workers who identified as Anglo-Australian. We asked participants about their daily lives, their employment, their families, and their alcohol use. Underpinned by critical realism, reflexive thematic analysis was utilized as the data analysis strategy. Results: Women felt they had to be available to both their employers and their children at the same time. For some, this led to internalized feelings of guilt and fatigue, increasing women's desire to drink, and limiting their capacity to be mindful of the amount of alcohol they were consuming. Women also described feeling overloaded and under-supported, where alcohol was viewed as being relaxing and rewarding, as well as a way to escape, cope, and recover from their day-to-day stressors. Furthermore, through a combination of targeted marketing and broader social normalisation, women felt alcohol was presented as a solution to stress and problems among working mothers. Conclusions: Addressing commercial and social determinants of health and acknowledging these in potential health promotion strategies is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the association between within-household couples' parental leave take-up strategies and parents' earning capacity (hourly wages) and their workplace characteristics. The results, based on the social security register data from Luxembourg, reveal that a couple strategy where both partners take parental leave is more likely when the partners have equal earning capacity, when the mother works in the sector of education, health and social services rather than in other sectors, and when the father is employed in a larger-sized company. Couples where the mother earns more than the father are more likely to opt for a strategy where neither parent takes any leave. The economic sector moderates the effect of fathers' wages on the probability of choosing the strategy where both partners take leave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the last three decades, the increasing trend in female employment in Bangladesh has been critically analyzed from a socioeconomic point of view; however, its impact on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices has yet to be systematically reviewed. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the association between these variables. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and Google Scholar to retrieve relevant records with no restriction of publication period. The Covidence tool was used for screening and data extraction. Meta-analysis was carried out using random effect models. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used for the quality assessment of the included articles. Results: A total of 24 articles were included. Of these, 16 focused on breastfeeding-related indicators, 6 focused on complementary feeding-related indicators, and 2 focused on both. Maternal employment was found to have both positive (protective) and negative (detrimental) associations with exclusive breastfeeding, whereas it was mainly positively associated with complementary feeding practices. Meta-analysis showed the pooled odds ratio of recommended early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, and complementary feeding among employed mothers were 0.79 (95% CI: 0.49, 1.27; p = 0.33), 0.32 (95% CI:0.16, 0.67; p = 0.002), and 1.07 (95% CI: 0.81, 1.42; p = 0.63) compared to their counterparts, respectively. Conclusions: Maternal employment appears not to be a protective factor for some important breastfeeding indicators in Bangladesh. For example, there was a statistically significant lower likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding practice among employed mothers as compared to those who were not employed. Therefore, these issues should be taken into consideration when formulating relevant policies and interventions, e.g., breastfeeding-friendly workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we examine whether and why daily work stressors are associated with sleep quality and sleep quantity. We draw on the effort-recovery model to test daily relationships between challenge and hindrance work stressors and sleep through physical and psychological fatigue, and vigor. We analyze daily diary data from 98 working sole mothers collected over seven days. The within-person daily hypotheses linking challenge and hindrance stressors to sleep via energetic mediators in our model were not supported. Exploratory analysis revealed several of our hypotheses were supported at the between-person level. Challenge and hindrance stressors were differentially related to psychological fatigue and physical fatigue such that hindrance stressors were positively associated, and challenge stressors were negatively associated. Challenge and hindrance stressors were differentially related to vigor such that hindrance stressors were negatively associated, and challenge stressors were positively associated. Across individuals, challenge and hindrance stressors were indirectly related to sleep quantity through these energetic mediators. This study answers calls for more investigations into mechanisms linking work stressors and sleep, and emphasises the importance of examining phenomena at multiple levels of analysis. Theoretical and practical implications for the challenge-hindrance framework and effort-recovery model, including the appropriate timeframe for study, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid economic growth has transformed social and family structure globally, including in China, over the past few decades. With women's engagement in the workforce, the dual demand of paid and domestic work has become a major source of stress, particularly among mothers. Working mothers face unique challenges of family obligations blended with contemporary values of women's career aspirations. Methods: This study recruited 189 participants. This study employed quantitative methods to investigate the relationship between parenting stress and mental health, and the moderating role of social capital, among working mothers in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province of China. Results: The findings suggested a high level of parenting stress among Chinese working mothers. Their stress is associated with depressive symptoms. What should be noted is that social capital acts as a moderator between their stress and depressive symptoms. Discussion: This study reveals the buffering effect of social capital against parenting stress and depression in Chinese working mothers, with an emphasis on the importance of workplace flexibility and social support systems in addressing work–family conflicts. The study enriches the study of the buffer effect of social capital on mental health. This knowledge can inform the development of targeted interventions and support systems to improve working mothers' overall well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the individual differences in perceived pressure to get married among Chinese LGB individuals in terms of demographic, parental, and geographical factors (N = 408, Mage = 25.9, SD = 4.8). For parental factors, LGB individuals with mothers employed in non-government system and parents having below college education level experienced higher pressure than their counterparts. For geographical variables, LGB individuals who were born and raised in North China and in villages or towns experienced higher pressure than those in South China and prefecture-level cities, respectively. The results implicated that the intervention and health service should be provided for target LGB population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critical shortage of cybersecurity talent exists in the United States. The lack of personnel has resulted in increased competition for the cybersecurity professionals. As the field of cybersecurity has evolved, a significant salary gap has surfaced between public and private employers. With private employers paying higher salaries, it has become harder for government agencies to hire cybersecurity professionals. Different policies and programs have been developed by government agencies to address this barrier. The current study examines the employment goals of a sample of cybersecurity students (n = 156). Specific attention is given to the types of employers students want to work for as well as how students rate the importance of different job dynamics. A sizeable number of the students (n = 90) expressed interest in working in public service. Job dynamics most important to students included being treated with respect, having job security, knowing expectation, safety, and opportunities for improvement. The results show significant demographic dissimilarities as well as differences in the ways that public service-oriented students (versus students seeking careers with private companies) rated job dynamics. Bivariate analyses showed that female and first-generation cybersecurity students were more likely to express interest in public service careers, as were juniors, seniors, and graduate students. In addition, students whose mother worked for the government were more likely than students whose mother worked for a private company to express interest in working in public service careers. Multivariate analyses confirmed these results. Female cybersecurity students also rated the importance of job security, mission attainment, personal empowerment, teamwork, commitment to representation, and personal empowerment higher than male cybersecurity students. Those who expressed interest in working in public service careers rated the importance of personal empowerment, collaboration, and physical conditions higher than those seeking careers in private industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the late 1990s, states have adopted policies to protect intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors in the workplace. State policymakers and some employers have acknowledged that IPV impacts work, but formal responses vary widely. The current study focuses on examining two state-level policies and their effect on reducing violence outcomes. We utilized two samples of mothers who experienced IPV; one that was employed (N = 1,893) and one mixed sample of employed/unemployed (N = 1,961) in the Future of Families and Wellbeing Study. About 300 survivors in the current study lived in a state with one of the selected protective workplace policies for IPV. Flexible workplace leave or the ability for survivors to take time off of work to address IPV (e.g. attend court hearings, access services, safety plan, etc.) did not have a significant effect on abuse. However, confidentiality, or the right of survivors to privacy upon disclosure of abuse, coupled with leave policies was associated with a significant reduction in IPV. Survivors may benefit especially from confidentiality as it reduces workplace gossip and give survivors the peace-of-mind that employers value their safety. Implications for state policymakers and future research are discussed. Findings indicate supportive workplace policies are effective in reducing violence, but future study of additional policies is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professionally mobile individuals tend to migrate for career purposes at the prime age of reproduction. This article focuses on highly skilled migrant mothers from different cultural backgrounds living and working in Geneva. The article argues that they inhabit and internalize their identities as―lead, tied, and/or equal―migrants and this impacts ways in which they come to develop their professional and maternal subjectivities. Highly skilled migrant mothers who identified with their tied migrant status developed a neoliberal professional and maternal subjectivity, whereas those who had internalized the lead or equal migrant ideal subjectivities developed liberal feminist professional and maternal selves. The typology of postfeminist/neoliberal versus liberal feminist migrant mothers' subjectivities helps us to better understand the feminist potentials for migration of highly skilled mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how mothers who are creative workers articulate their subjectivities and examines how their interdependent identities as both mothers and creatives lead to a constant and unresolved negotiation of subjectivity. This constitutes an additional cognitive work burden or a "subjectivity load" for mother‐creatives. The study is based on a small‐scale qualitative study of 40 mothers working in Creative Industries in Ireland. Venn's framework on subjectivity is used to explore the attitudes, values, expectations, and dispositions that respondents articulated when questioned about how they saw the self in relation to the identities of mother and worker. Key findings note that mother workers held ambivalent attitudes about the combination of mothering with work. In terms of their values, respondents internalized a negative and irresolute sense of self if they did not live up to social values on motherhood. With regard to expectations of themselves, mothers felt that they were always having to choose between conflicting demands and that there was an internalized expectation that motherhood should be prioritized over work. Finally, in terms of their disposition, respondents explained they felt that society refused to understand mothers as artists and so they could not easily achieve a settled subjectivity in light of the invisibility of mothers who were also creative workers. Consequently, mother‐creatives are always engaged in a process of negotiation across identity contradictions to form their own subjectivities. This ongoing ambivalence creates another cognitive or subjectivity load around the making and remaking of the internalized self. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the subjectification of working mothers through the lens of intersectionality by listening to the under‐represented voices of those whose lives are shaped at the intersections of gender, poverty, Islam, and Javanese ethnicity. Drawing on poststructuralist feminist discourse analysis, the subtle subjectification process is observed through conversational interactions in which working mothers construct the 'ideal woman'. The findings challenge the predominant postfeminist framing in the extant literature by illustrating how here working mothers draw on a specifically local discourse (i.e., moderate‐Islam and Javanese cultural discourses) to construct the ideal woman as embodying the dual wife‐mother identities. Based on these locally dependent discourses, working mothers accentuate their identity as wives while subduing identities as mothers and workers. The emphasis on the underexplored wife identity imbues work with a distinct significance for mothers within this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increased blurring of work and home life in contemporary society due to access to technology and the mass expansion of remote work during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Flexible working arrangements like remote work can lead to men self‐exploiting themselves in the workplace and women self‐exploiting themselves in the domestic sphere in the context of a work‐centric society that is reliant upon passion at work and traditional gender norms. This study extends Chung's ideas on gendered patterns in the flexibility paradox by examining spatial‐temporal dimensions of COVID‐19 remote work adaptation among an extreme sample: dual‐earner parents with young children. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted on Zoom with 20 mothers and 17 fathers working from home in the U.S. with children ages 5 and under between the summer of 2020 and the spring of 2021. Findings indicate that fathers' work is prioritized in spatio‐temporal terms whereas mothers' work is fragmented and dispersed. Gendered patterns in the flexibility paradox and labor shouldered by mothers as primary caregivers are considered as potential theoretical explanations for the privileging of fathers' workspace and work time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the vulnerability perceptions of healthcare mothers with children aged between 4–8 years. The population (n = 589) of the study was all healthcare workers in a hospital, while the sample (n = 342) included the healthcare worker mothers who volunteered to participate in the study, have child are 4–8 age, who could be reached through social media. According to the participants, they needed psychological support and the measures taken for COVID-19 were inadequate. The study found that the participants' perception of vulnerability was high and that the participants who were in the 21–35 age group and who needed psychological support had high vulnerability perception. In conclusion, this study underlined some of the difficulties experienced by healthcare workers and revealed that their perception of vulnerability was high. Healthcare mothers are faced with the perception of vulnerability due to both the intense working conditions they experience and the threat of a deadly epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background The transition to motherhood involves significant changes, extending from pregnancy to the early years of a child's life. This period, characterized by multiple stressors and adjustments, can profoundly impact maternal well-being. For this reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the associations between work-family balance, need satisfaction, depression, anger, vitality and sleep–wake problems, using Self-determination Theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework. Methods Participated in this study 218 working mothers in Italy with children aged between 1 and 36 months. Using a correlational design, SEM with latent variables was used to test an integrative model. Results Results revealed significant positive associations between work-family balance and need satisfaction, and vitality, and negative direct associations of need satisfaction with sleep–wake problems, depression, and anger. Indirect associations were also visible between work-family balance and psychological outcomes through need satisfaction. Conclusions. Overall, findings underscore the importance of conditions that support the satisfaction autonomy, competence, and relatedness of working mothers during this critical life stage. These insights have implications for organizational policies and interventions aimed at supporting the mental health of working mothers.

Although there has been progress in achieving gender equality, working mothers continue to encounter significant challenges balancing work and family roles, leading to work-family conflict (WFC) and subsequent feelings of guilt regarding WFC. Work-family guilt (WFG) is an emotional response to imbalances that arise from the demands of both work and family responsibilities. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework for the antecedents and outcomes of WFG among working mothers, addressing the gap in research regarding their guilt experiences. Drawing on the prior studies, this paper proposes that societal, organizational, and individual factors will interact, leading to WFC and subsequently causing WFG, which in turn results in some undesirable consequences in societal, organizational, and individual domains. Among the existing research on WFC, this study stands out for its comprehensive review of the determiners and consequences of WFG from a gender role perspective. The suggested framework seeks to provide guidance to working mothers, policymakers, managers, and human resource experts on reducing WFG among working mothers, thus enhancing their overall well-being and productivity. This study explores WFG from a gender standpoint, highlighting the significance of employing gender-sensitive strategies for addressing challenges at both individual, organizational, and societal levels.

Background: Malnutrition among children remains a critical public health challenge in India. WHO's IYCF model recommends that children should feed on five out of eight food categories daily. The objective of the study is to assess dietary diversity and associated risk factors among children, focusing on complex interplay of socio-economic and demographic factors. Methods: The study utilized nationally representative data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted in 2019–2021, focusing on a sample of 62,553 children aged 6–24 months. Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) was assessed using children received foods from ≥ 5 food group out of eight specified food groups over the 24 h preceding the survey. Logistic regression employed to examine the association between DD and its predictors (p value < 0.05). Results: Overall, 52% of the children were male, while the remaining 48% were female. Only 23.3% of the children across India achieved MDD. Mother's education was positively associated with dietary diversity (OR:1.15; 95% CI:0.92–1.4). Factors significantly associated with dietary diversity were children aged 19–23 months (OR:4.03; CI:3.46–4.69), working mothers (OR:1.30; 95% CI:1.14–1.5) and children belonged to middle (OR:1.22; CI:1.05–1.43) and rich socio-economic status (OR:1.48; CI:1.26–1.8) as compared to their counterparts. Additionally, no difference found in dietary diversity among male and female children (OR:1.01; CI:0.9–1.11) and urban and rural areas (OR:101; CI:0.87–1.17). Those children belonged to Northeast region had around 70% higher dietary diversity as compared to Central region. Conclusion: This study highlights a concerning low prevalence of dietary diversity among young children in India. Interventions and policies should target on implementing comprehensive nutrition education programs for caregivers, coupled with targeted financial support and community engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the level of health literacy and its associated factors among Jimma town public high school adolescents, Jimma, Oromia, Southwest Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2023 among 604 Jimma town public high school adolescents. A multistage sampling technique was employed to recruit study participants. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was entered into epidata 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 26.0 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with the level of health literacy. P-values less than 0.05 at 95% CI were used to declare statistically significant associations. The results were presented by text, tables and charts as necessary. Results: From 634 total sample size about 604 participated. About 317 (52.5%) were males. The age of participants ranged from 14 to 19 years, with a mean age of 16.95+1.52. The finding revealed that only 35.26% (95% CI; 31.44, 39.09) of participants had desired health literacy, while 64.74% of them had limited health literacy levels. Age of 18–19 [AOR = 3.99(2.41, 6.60): p<0.001], being in 11–12 grade level [AOR = 2.38(1.44, 3.95); p = 0.001], being from currently employed father [AOR = 4.20(1.98, 8.92); p<0.001] and being from currently employed mother [AOR = 4.54(2.82, 7.31); p<0.001] were factors positively associated with the level of desired health literacy. Conclusion: Since a significant number of students in our study area had limited health literacy, we recommend schools to integrate a school health service that contains health education services. Moreover, efforts should be undertaken to raise adolescent health literacy for middle adolescents, early adolescents, and students whose families were not employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The transition to motherhood involves significant changes, extending from pregnancy to the early years of a child's life. This period, characterized by multiple stressors and adjustments, can profoundly impact maternal well-being. For this reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the associations between work-family balance, need satisfaction, depression, anger, vitality and sleep–wake problems, using Self-determination Theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework. Methods: Participated in this study 218 working mothers in Italy with children aged between 1 and 36 months. Using a correlational design, SEM with latent variables was used to test an integrative model. Results: Results revealed significant positive associations between work-family balance and need satisfaction, and vitality, and negative direct associations of need satisfaction with sleep–wake problems, depression, and anger. Indirect associations were also visible between work-family balance and psychological outcomes through need satisfaction. Conclusions. Overall, findings underscore the importance of conditions that support the satisfaction autonomy, competence, and relatedness of working mothers during this critical life stage. These insights have implications for organizational policies and interventions aimed at supporting the mental health of working mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Work-family balance has emerged as one of the influencing factors for the physical and mental health of working mothers and their children. Aims: The present study aimed to understand the experiences and perspectives of working mothers on maternity leave and return to work after childbirth. This cross-sectional survey was conducted in three major cities in southeastern Iran. Methods: Working mothers who had at least one live birth during the 3 years prior to the survey, aged between 18 and 49 years, and living with their husbands were enrolled using a consecutive sampling method. The sampling framework consisted of all government workplaces that had at least 30 female employees. Using a validated anonymous questionnaire consisting of demographic and attitude variables, we assessed the working mothers' experiences and perspectives regarding the quantity and nature of the last maternity leave and how supportive their workplace was. Descriptive statistics with frequencies and percentages were used. To compare categorical variables between groups, the Chi-square test was used. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22. Results: A total of 900 female employees were invited to participate in the study, and finally, 741 valid questionnaires were analyzed. More than 21% of them reported that the office had changed their position or type of work after returning to work. Women with higher position jobs reported a higher husband's support for baby care (P = 0.03). Almost 51% of mothers agreed their workplace allowed them to use breastfeeding breaks, which was less evident in nurses (P = 0.001). Nearly 86% of them stated that mothering duties are much more important than job-related responsibilities. Conclusions: Our study identified areas of consideration for investing in family-friendly workplace policies in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do women manage domestic work spatially? How does that change throughout life and relate to their subjectivities and womanhood? Informed by feminist geographers' concept of 'lived' space and queer studies' concept of disjunctive modernity, this paper spatialises women's domestic practices through examining 43 older Hong Kong women's life stories on domesticity. Hong Kong women, since childhood, have creatively employed temporal-spatial strategies to multiply and shrink domestic space to negotiate domestic responsibilities and gender hierarchy prescribed by family and society. Domestic space changes throughout life and intersects with other spaces, including work, institutional, entertainment and public spaces. Through performing various domestic spatial practices at different points in their life course, these women have developed gendered subjectivities such as self-reliant and independent 'modern' womanhood, dutiful daughters and tiresome working mothers, which complement, negotiate and contradict with each other, constituting what we term 'disjunctive modern Hong Kong womanhood'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explored the correlations between stressors in the family‐work system, the assessment of family‐friendly management practices, and work dedication among parents in Israel, with a comparison between fathers and mothers. The research sample included 317 Jewish parents, each with at least one child under the age of 10 (158 mothers, 159 fathers). Quantitative methods were employed, and data were collected by the Israeli Panels Research Institute. Women tend to make more accommodation requests for childcare and experience greater discrimination at work than fathers. Accommodation requests and assessments of non‐family‐friendly management practices correlated with feelings of being discriminated against among both men and women. However, discrimination correlated negatively to work dedication only among women. Negative experiences at work contribute more to explaining the dedication of women to work than the dedication of men. Public significance statement: The findings indicate that for both genders, perceptions of management as non‐family‐friendly and the frequency of accommodation requests are positively correlated with experiences of discrimination among working parents. However, the experience of discrimination is negatively correlated with work dedication only among mothers. These findings underscore the importance of organizations pursuing a family‐friendly agenda. Advancing such an agenda is pivotal, as it could mitigate experiences of discrimination and thereby contribute indirectly to employee well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 and the associated government lockdowns in the UK had dramatic impacts on the UK's creative industries. This article explores these impacts on mothers working in UK Television (UKTV), on their ability to work, finances, and mental health. It is based on the largest survey ever conducted of this group. It is argued that the COVID-19 crisis revealed and compounded the long-standing incompatibility between gendered, unpaid care work and the intensity of working patterns in UKTV. This had disastrous effects on mothers attempting to remain within television labour markets whilst also shouldering the overwhelming majority of the burden of additional childcare, with potential long-term effects on gendered labour market outcomes and the diversity of the UK's creative industry workforce. Finally, the article explores Working From Home (WFH) as one possible solution to the problem of combining unpaid care work with the intense working patterns associated with TV work. It finds that, while an important tool through which mothers can manage care work alongside television work, WFH needs to be approached with caution as a policy and practice solution to continued gender inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the supply of male and female labor in Brazil, using data from the Continuous National Household Survey. The health crisis reduced the likelihood of men and women working more hours, with women being the most affected, especially mothers with young children. The presence of children in the home affected mothers more, reducing their participation in the labor market, while it increased for men. It is suggested to promote gender equality and expand the availability of childcare. [Extracted from the article]

This essay explores the resurgence of cultural attention to fatigue during the 1980s, when structural economic shifts and the rise of dual-earner households placed unprecedented demands on working mothers. It argues that the "war on fatigue" reframed systemic challenges of unpaid care work as individual problems of energy management, drawing on neoliberal ideals of personal responsibility and self-improvement. By situating fatigue within broader economic, gendered, and cultural contexts, the essay highlights how this discourse served to uphold capitalist labor structures while obscuring the unresolved dilemmas of care work and inequality.

There is an increasing number of studies concerned with the study of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). At the same time, there is a lack of interest in studies on their families, especially on mothers who represent the first breadwinner for a child who suffers from a deficit in social communication with others, reflected in their well-being (PWB). This study aimed to reveal the possibility of predicting the PWB of autistic spectrum children's mothers through the variables of coping strategies and psychological capital (PsyCap). The study used a predictive, descriptive research method to reveal the ability of the variables—coping strategies (problem-solving, avoidance, support, re-evaluation, remorse) and PsyCap (self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resilience)—in predicting the PWB of autistic spectrum children's mothers. The study sample consisted of (248) mothers, to whom coping strategies, PsyCap, and PWB measures were applied. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences between working and housewife mothers of autistic spectrum children in solving problems (t = 3.162, p < 0.002), avoidance (t = 1.973, p < 0.05), positive coping (t = 2.307, p < 0.022), self-efficacy (t = 3.667, p < 0.000), resilience (t = 3.338, p < 0.001), PsyCap (t = 2.866, p < 0.005), and PWB (t = 2.549, p < 0.011). Meanwhile, there were no statistically significant differences in social support, problem reassessment, remorse, negative coping, optimism, and hope. Also, there were no statistically significant differences due to the number of children in coping strategies, PsyCap, and PWB. The results also showed that there were statistically significant differences at the level of significance (0.05) between mothers whose age was less than 40 years and those 40 years and older in solving problems (t = 2.093, p < 0.037) in favor of mothers of the age group 40 years and older (M = 22.00, SD = 1.22), and avoidance (t = 1.987, p < 0.048) in favor of mothers under 40 years of age (M = 6.228, SD = 0.464). However, there were no statistically significant differences in social support, problem reassessment, remorse, positive coping, negative coping, self-efficacy, optimism, hope, resilience, the total degree of PsyCap, and well-being due to the variable of the mother's age. The regression analysis results showed that optimism and problem-solving contributed to (39.90%) of the total change in PWB for mothers of children with autism spectrum. The study's findings indicate the need to develop the ability of autistic spectrum children's mothers to solve problems and their PsyCap, which is represented in self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resilience, to enhance their PWB, which may have a positive impact on their autistic spectrum child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Denmark, parental leave in relation to childbirth has long been a political hot topic. This study adds a new perspective to this issue by examining a newly emergent LinkedIn discourse which we call "maternity leave as upskilling." It presents maternity leave as an opportunity to strengthen women's professional competences. Denmark has seen no noteworthy organic balancing of available leave days between parents, and Danish politicians have long been reluctant to implement earmarked paternity leave. The "upskilling" discourse may therefore constitute a way for working mothers to challenge the hitherto dominant "maternity leave as a gap in the CV" view by aiming to revalue care work as professionally relevant by engaging "neoliberal feminist" language of self-optimization and the capitalization off of personal relationships—here childcare. The women's use of LinkedIn fits neatly with neoliberal feminism's individualization of the "feminist" agenda. This way, the "upskilling" discourse simultaneously transcends the private-public divide, by introducing market metrics, entrepreneurialism, and managerialist lingo into care work, and rearticulates it anew because, through the supposed uniqueness of the skills achieved during maternity leave, motherhood becomes required for women's career success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the history of the Bristol-based organisation Single-Parent Action Network (SPAN), and its challenge to mainstream understandings of single parenthood. A sharp increase in single parent-led households since the 1970s had been met by a political and social narrative that single-parent families (c. 90% of them headed by women) were both a drain on the public purse and a root cause of social breakdown. Both the Conservatives and New Labour supported policies that aimed to decrease welfare dependency by increasing child support payments from absent fathers and getting single mothers into paid work. These policies—which reconceptualised single mothers as workers rather than carers—were opposed by SPAN, a multi-racial and women-led national and international network, which sought to challenge the stigmatisation of single parents. SPAN's work and organisational self-understanding were underpinned by ideas and practices that had their origins in the 1970s and 1980s Black, women's and community activism: anti-racism, a feminist understanding of care as work, and the importance of lived experience in the political process. Although SPAN often seemed out of step with modernised and professional NGOs, the values it espoused were to prove remarkably persistent and re-emerge in the new millennium in unexpected ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study explores the media mediation strategies employed by mothers in guiding their children's media consumption, focusing on how mothers' media literacy levels influence their practices. With the rapid advancement of technology and the increasing importance of digital engagement in children's lives, it is crucial to understand the strategies mothers use to protect and educate their children in this digital landscape. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data. Ten mothers of children aged 6 to 12 years in Davao City, Philippines, participated in the study. The quantitative data was gathered using Renee Hobbs' Media Literacy Scale to assess mothers' media literacy, while qualitative insights were drawn from open-ended survey questions and follow-up interviews. The findings revealed six key themes in maternal mediation practices: proactive media management, interactive media education through parental dialogue, family bonding through media, discipline rooted in family values, prioritizing digital safety and privacy, and the influence of peer practices and virtual communities. The study found that higher media literacy among mothers positively influenced their ability to engage in more effective mediation strategies, emphasizing the importance of education, family values, and digital safety. These results underscore the role of mothers not only as supervisors but also as active mentors in their children's media consumption. This research highlights the need for continued support for mothers in developing media literacy to foster safer and more meaningful digital experiences for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper re‐examines the impact of childcare availability on maternal employment in Japan, focusing on the period when childcare centre availability increased dramatically due to government policies in the 2010s aimed at boosting women's labour participation. We use data tracking mothers' employment status after childbirth, merging administrative data on the availability of both standard and nonstandard childcare centres. This is linked to each respondent via location identifiers based on their residential city and the nearest train station. The findings first show that an increase in unlicensed/nonstandard daycare availability significantly raised the proportion of mothers who return to work by the time the child reaches the age of three, particularly in areas with limited access to licensed/standard centres. Secondly, the effects may vary depending on the services offered by the centres. The results suggest that nonstandard centres, often more conveniently located and offering varied services, better meet the needs of working mothers, leading to higher employment rates. This research emphasizes that government efforts to expand childcare options in the 2010s may play a crucial role in promoting maternal labour‐force participation in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there has been progress in achieving gender equality, working mothers continue to encounter significant challenges balancing work and family roles, leading to work-family conflict (WFC) and subsequent feelings of guilt regarding WFC. Work-family guilt (WFG) is an emotional response to imbalances that arise from the demands of both work and family responsibilities. This study aims to develop a conceptual framework for the antecedents and outcomes of WFG among working mothers, addressing the gap in research regarding their guilt experiences. Drawing on the prior studies, this paper proposes that societal, organizational, and individual factors will interact, leading to WFC and subsequently causing WFG, which in turn results in some undesirable consequences in societal, organizational, and individual domains. Among the existing research on WFC, this study stands out for its comprehensive review of the determiners and consequences of WFG from a gender role perspective. The suggested framework seeks to provide guidance to working mothers, policymakers, managers, and human resource experts on reducing WFG among working mothers, thus enhancing their overall well-being and productivity. This study explores WFG from a gender standpoint, highlighting the significance of employing gender-sensitive strategies for addressing challenges at both individual, organizational, and societal levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Al-Adab / Al-ādāb is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article explores the history of the Bristol-based organisation Single-Parent Action Network (SPAN), and its challenge to mainstream understandings of single parenthood. A sharp increase in single parent-led households since the 1970s had been met by a political and social narrative that single-parent families (c. 90% of them headed by women) were both a drain on the public purse and a root cause of social breakdown. Both the Conservatives and New Labour supported policies that aimed to decrease welfare dependency by increasing child support payments from absent fathers and getting single mothers into paid work. These policies—which reconceptualised single mothers as workers rather than carers—were opposed by SPAN, a multi-racial and women-led national and international network, which sought to challenge the stigmatisation of single parents. SPAN's work and organisational self-understanding were underpinned by ideas and practices that had their origins in the 1970s and 1980s Black, women's and community activism: anti-racism, a feminist understanding of care as work, and the importance of lived experience in the political process. Although SPAN often seemed out of step with modernised and professional NGOs, the values it espoused were to prove remarkably persistent and re-emerge in the new millennium in unexpected ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]