Effects of Preferred Maternal Roles, Maternal Employment, and Sociodemographic Status on School Adjustment and Competence

Abstract

FAREL, ANITA M. Effects of Preferred Maternal Roles, Maternal Employment, and Sociodemographic Status on School Adjustment and Competence. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1980, 51, 11791186. This study examines the effects of 2 intervening variables, sociodemographic characteristics and maternal attitudes toward employment, on the relationship between maternal employment and measures of child development. The hypothesis was tested that mothers whose attitudes toward work and whose employment status are congruent have children who are more competent and show better adjustment to school than the children of mothers with incongruent work attitudes and work behavior. No significant differences were found on measures of school achievement and competence between kindergarten children of working or nonworking mothers when controlling for sociodemographic variables. Children of nonworking mothers whose attitudes and work behavior were congruent performed better on the outcome measures than children of nonworking mothers whose attitudes toward work and work behavior were incongruent. Whether or not a working mother's attitude and behavior were congruent had no effect on the child's performance on the outcome measures.