Combining motherhood and work: effects of dual identity and identity conflict on well-being

Zagefka, H. and Houston, Diane and Duff, L. and Moftizadeh, N. (2021) Combining motherhood and work: effects of dual identity and identity conflict on well-being. Journal of Child and Family Studies 30 , pp. 2452-2460. ISSN 1062-1024.

Abstract

This study investigated whether having a dual identity as both a mother and an employed person constitutes a threat to well-being, or whether it is a positive resource. The study focused on indices of life satisfaction and self-esteem. A convenience sample of 208 mothers were exposed to a manipulation of identity conflict, whereby we manipulated whether working mothers perceived their identities as a mother and an employed person to be in conflict with each other or not. It was hypothesized that generally having multiple identities (as an employee and a mother) would be positively associated with well-being, that perceived identity conflict would have a negative impact on well-being, and that identity conflict would exacerbate the negative effects of identity-related stressors on well-being. Results supported these predictions. The applied implication is that policies that enable mothers to work will be conducive to maternal well-being, but that the policies must minimize conflict between demands associated with employment and parental responsibilities.

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