Objective: The study investigated whether a working mother’s perceived self-efficacy mediates the effects of the maternal influencing factors of maternal work involvement, maternal separation anxiety, and social support on the role-integrating behaviors of perceived maternal stress, health-promoting lifestyle, and mother-infant interaction.
Design: A descriptive, correlational design was used.
Population, Sample, Setting, Years: The cross-sectional convenience sample was comprised of 150 first time mothers eighteen years or older, working full-time, with a child less than 3 years from the population of a large medical center’s pediatric clinics. The study was conducted from March 2000-April 2001.
Variables Studied Together: The effects of maternal influencing factors of maternal work involvement, maternal separation anxiety, and social support on role-integrating behaviors of perceived maternal stress, health-promoting lifestyle, and mother-infant interaction are indirect and are mediated by a working mother’s perceived self-efficacy.
Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire packet including one questionnaire measuring each of the variables with the exception of mother-infant interaction. The investigator completed the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale measuring this variable.
Findings: A significant correlation was shown between the maternal influencing factors and the role-integrating behaviors. Significant correlations were found between the maternal influencing factors and role-integrating behaviors and working mother perceived self-efficacy. Controlling for the mediator variable of working mother perceived self-efficacy, the significant correlations between the maternal influencing factors and the role-integrating behaviors became non-significant or lessened.
Conclusions: Data supported working mother perceived self-efficacy as a mediator variable. The Working Mother Belief Scale (measuring this variable) demonstrated reliability and validity, making it a potential screening tool for working mothers.
Implications: Use of the Working Mother Belief Scale as a screening tool to establish a cut-off score predictive of high-risk working mothers could facilitate support of this population through classes/ support groups designed to increase their working mother perceived self-efficacy.
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Back to 14th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
10-12 July 2003