Stress and social support among fulltime working mohters
Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Health Policy & Management (MSc Health Policy & Mgmt)
Department
Community Health Sciences
Abstract
Stress is a growing mental health problem contributing significantly as major public health concern for the society. Working women increasingly becoming a part of workforce. These women remain in the labor force all through their reproductive and child nurturing years. Exposure to unremitting stress lead to chronic mental disorder which resultantly effects the productivity and quality if life of an individual. The impact on mental wellbeing of these women can be more deleterious in the absence of adequate social support. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the 'perceived stress' and 'perceived social support' among full time working mothers in Karachi city Pakistan. Method: This cross sectional study was conducted in urban settings between July- August 2018. Convenient sample method was used and participants were approached through their organizations. Fulltime professional mothers working at least 30 hours a week, having one or more children of 2 years to 518 years, either married, widowed or divorced were enrolled in the study. In order to gather the data, "Perceived Stress Scale10 (PSS 10)" and "Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MPSS)" were used. Each participant read and signed informed consent form before involvement in the study. Results: Total of 88 eligible working mother were enrolled during one month of the study period. Data was analyzed for 88 working mother. The mean age was 37.77 ± 5.33 years and 45% had master's degree. Around 55% were working in academic sector, and 81% had >5 years of working experience. 88% were married and had an average of 2.02 ± 0.88 children of 9.57 ± 5.24 years of age. Mean Perceived Stress Score on PSS 10 was found to be 18.11 ± 6.09 indicating moderate level of stress among study participants. Mean Perceived Social Support score on MPSS was reported as 5.31 ± 1.1 showing high level social support among participants. The correlation was statically insignificant (pvalue- 0.072) between perceived stress and perceived social support Wage Conclusion: This cross sectional study analyzed the perceived level of stress and perceived social support among full time profession mothers. The data reveals that these mothers reported moderate stress and high social support. Key words: Working mother, stress, social support, PSS 10, MPSS, Karachi
Recommended Citation
Jawaid, N. (2018). Stress and social support among fulltime working mohters (Unpublished doctoral thesis). Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.