Role Strain Coping Behaviors and Associated Variables among Non-professional Working Mothers

비전문직 취업모의 역할긴장에 대한 대처행동 및 관련변수 연구

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of coping behaviors of non-professional working mothers and find out the individual and situational factors which affect the degree of coping behaviors. For this research, the working mothers in non-professional job with children under age 18 answered the structured questionaire. The findings were as follows. First, the degree of coping behaviors was rather high in multiple role management strategies, strengthening family system and positive thinking, but rather low in housework socialization and role reduction/standard adjustment. Second, the effect of associated variables were different according to the subcategories of coping behaviors. So we conclude that, the coping behaviors of the non-professional working mothers were different from those of professional working mothers in some aspects, althought they have much similarities. The different aspects were 1) The relationship of family income and the degree of housework socialization was more evident. 2) The work-related variables did not affect the coping process significantly because of the conservative sex-role attitued of them. Second, non-professional working mothers should use coping behaviors such as housework socialization, role reduction/standard adjustment more for the more effective management of the role strain. Third, the attitude of occupational and parental role was one of the most important factors in using the role strain coping behaviors. And such an unconscious use of the coping behavior won't be helpful in the feeling of control over environment including role strain and active coping of working mothers.