The relationship between central life interests and work-family conflict amongst single working mothers

Andrews, Taryn

The relationship between central life interests and work-family conflict amongst single working mothers

Master Thesis

2000

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Organisational Psychology

Faculty

Faculty of Commerce

Abstract

This research explored the experiences of work-family conflict amongst a group of twenty single working mothers with pre-school age children. Dubin's (1992) theory of Central Life Interests was utilised to fully understand how the differential importance of the roles played by the women informed the level and nature of the conflict experienced. A two-phase research design was employed, in which questionnaire responses from the first phase formed the basis for the second phase of in-depth qualitative interviews. Results indicated that participants viewed motherhood as their Central Life Interest and that this priority could lead them to experience greater conflict between work and family demands. Although work was rated second in importance when compared to family, it was still seen as being of great significance, not only for instrumental reasons but also for the intellectual stimulation provided and opportunities for participants to exercise independence and resposibility.

Description

Bibliography: leaves 79-87.

Keywords

Business Science

Reference:

Collections

Masters

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