Examined demographic and occupational features associated with postpartum plans reported at childbirth and status 6 months later for 205 Canadian women. Women employed until birth were more likely to be primiparous than unemployed women. Parity, socioeconomic status, and part- versus full-time work status failed to discriminate between women's…

Children from divorced families did not have more household or childcare responsibilities than other children, but they did assume a confidant role with their mothers more often. They also rated themselves lower in social competence. Maternal employment decreased the children's participation in athletic activities and involvement with friends.…

Documents the extent to which one-parent families tend to have social and economic characteristics that compare unfavorably with those of two-parent families. Lone fathers are shown to have a much more favorable profile than their female counterparts, but the latter show evidence of recent improvement. (Author/BL)

Studied time use by mothers in single- and two-parent families, with both employed and nonemployed mothers. Single, employed mothers have least amount of time to spend in most activities. Analysis of covariance and least square means were used to study and identify significant differences in household tasks, child care, volunteer time, personal…

This study investigates how the option for new-concept part-time (NPT) employment influences the ability of mothers of preschool children working in professional occupations to successfully integrate work and family responsibilities. Female NPT professionals (n=279) and female full-time (FT) professionals (n=250) were compared. The NPT group…

Investigated how 97 women in dual-career families with preschool children manage typical conflicts between their professional and parental roles. Increased role behavior and cognitive restructuring were the most highly endorsed coping strategies. Personal and situational resources were associated with lower role conflict and greater coping…

Mothers who were consistent in plans not to work following the infant's birth were similar in separation anxiety to mothers who changed their minds and returned to work. Inconsistent mothers were more career oriented and less positive about the maternal role. Counselors should be aware of material attitudes. (JAC)

Relationship of social support, role satisfaction, and self-efficacy to measures of role strain was explored in married, employed women with preschool aged children. Self efficacy in work and parental role proved to be a significant predictor of work-family conflict and role overload. Organizational support on role conflict was mediated by job…

Discusses public programs related to maternal employment including Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Reports on economic and social forces which discourage employment of mothers outside the home. Describes programs dealing with barriers to maternal employment. (RC)

Examined attitudes of 20 divorced mothers about becoming their families' breadwinners. Attitudes toward breadwinning varied according to 3 marital history types: segregated, modified-segregated, and primarily wife-shaped. Findings showed that mothers from segregated marriages had the greatest difficulty accepting the breadwinner role. (TE)

Findings from study of daughters (n=112) in midlife who were caring for their elderly mothers indicated that employment outside of home was related only to increase in physical strain in caregiving. Presence of children in household predicted lower levels of caregiver strain and greater caregiver well-being. (Author/NB)