THE IMPACT OF CHILDCARE RESPONSIBILITY AND SELF-EFFICACY ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH OF PROFESSIONAL WORKING MOTHERS

This study examined how childcare responsibility and self-efficacy to manage multiple role demands related to the psychological well-being and distress of 42 full-time professional women one month after they returned to their jobs after the birth of their first child. The results showed that greater childcare responsibility is associated with lower well-being and greater psychological distress. As predicted, perceived self-efficacy to cope with demands of occupational and familial roles appeared to mediate this relationship. A woman's belief in her capability to enlist the help of her spouse for childcare was the most consistent predictor of both well-being and distress.