Date of Award

12-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MS in Epidemiology & Biostatistics

First Advisor

Mr.Iqbal Azam

Second Advisor

Dr.Shireen Shahzad

Third Advisor

Dr.Muslima Ejaz

Department

Community Health Sciences

Abstract

Background: Working mothers often face unique challenges in balancing their roles, which can lead to work-family guilt, particularly when long working hours interfere with family responsibilities. This guilt is linked to increased stress, reduced job satisfaction, and negative impacts on mothers’ well-being, especially as young children require significant time and care. In Pakistan, research on work-family guilt, especially in the context of long working hours, is limited, though a few local qualitative studies have highlighted this issue. Understanding how extended work hours affect work-family guilt among Pakistani working mothers can guide the development of workplace policies that support a healthier work-life balance, reduce guilt, and ultimately improve productivity and satisfaction. This study aims to contribute to the literature by exploring these associations within the Pakistani context.
Methods The study design was cross sectional study that was hybrid in nature meaning data was collected from online as well as in person source. The sample comprised of 213 working mothers, 118 from online source and 95 from in person interviews. Correlations were assessed. Multiple linear regression was employed, and interaction terms were also included. Goodness of fit checked for the model.
Results: Working hours were significantly associated with work interfering with family guilt. Other predictors of guilt were work to family conflict, family to work conflict, number of children, occupation status of mothers and socioeconomic status. Two important interactions were also identified. One between work to family conflict and socioeconomic status and other one between number of working hours and number of children.
Conclusion: In conclusion, this study reveals that longer working hours, a higher number of children, and both work-to-family and family-to-work conflicts are significant predictors of work-family guilt. Lower socioeconomic status intensifies the negative effects of work-to-family conflict, as economic constraints and limited resources make balancing work and family more 6 challenging. The inclusion of occupation, particularly among domestic workers like maids, adds complexity, showing that individuals in lower-wage jobs experience heightened work[1]family guilt. This underscores the compounded pressures faced by those in lower socioeconomic categories. Future efforts for mental health counselling should be considered for working mothers as well as policy building for workplace.

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1

Last Page

119

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