Child care disruptions and working mothers: An experience sampling method approach

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dc.contributor.advisorHebl, Michelle R.en_US
dc.creatorFoster, Jessica Bigazzien_US
dc.date.accessioned2009-06-04T08:38:49Zen_US
dc.date.available2009-06-04T08:38:49Zen_US
dc.date.issued2003en_US
dc.description.abstractWithin the last three decades the number of single-parent and dual career families in this country have nearly doubled resulting in a steady increase in the demand for high-quality, safe child care to replace the care once traditionally provided by stay-at-home parents. Unfortunately, the supply of quality child care has not kept pace with the increasing demand, leaving parents to struggle with the stress of lower-than-desirable child care and the disruptions that occur when there is a failure in such arrangements (Kahn & Kamerman, 1987; Miller, 1990). An important implication of this struggle is the effect that it has on parents' ability to cope and function effectively at work. Past research on the interference of child care problems at work has been sparse and required parents to provide retrospective reports. The current study used an Experience Sampling Method (ESM) approach to examine the day-to-day experiences of working mothers with children in child care. Participants responded to questionnaires four times per day during work using a hand-held computer and recorded disruptions from caregiving responsibilities, psychological outcomes, and self-reported work outcomes. Results indicated that mothers experienced a considerable number of child care disruptions, which were related to more negative work outcomes, including decreased productivity and concentration; and more negative psychological outcomes, including increased stress levels and work-family conflict. Participants reported significantly more disruptions during daily recordings than by retrospective reporting of disruptions during the previous year, indicating that ESM may be capturing aspects of child care disruptions not encapsulated in previous retrospective studies. Several significant moderators of the relationship between child care disruptions and psychological outcomes were found, including individual differences, such as neuroticism, family involvement, and parent-child relationship closeness; and social support, including spousal support and supervisor support. However, no significant moderators of the relationship between child care disruptions and work outcomes were found.en_US
dc.format.extent117 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS PSYCH. 2003 FOSTERen_US
dc.identifier.citationFoster, Jessica Bigazzi. "Child care disruptions and working mothers: An experience sampling method approach." (2003) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/18527">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/18527</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/18527en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectIndustrial psychologyen_US
dc.subjectSociologyen_US
dc.subjectIndividual & family studiesen_US
dc.titleChild care disruptions and working mothers: An experience sampling method approachen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentPsychologyen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineSocial Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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