ASSESSMENT OF GUILT FEELING REGARDING CHILD CARING AMONG WORKING MOTHERS: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Background of the study: Mother is the primary care taker, first educator and nurturer of the
next generation. Motherhood confers upon a woman the responsibility of raising a child.1
this
process also changes the way in which she is perceived in society and at her workplace. What is
Working Mothers guilt? Working mother’s guilt is when something happens that makes you feel
guilty about being a working mom. For example, you may feel guilty when you leave your child
crying at daycare or you forget something for school because you were too busy thinking about
work. A working mother needs significant social and personal adjustments to cope with such a
situation. It can compel her to take more than available leave options, leading to risk of job
security. Along with motherhood, work adds to the wholeness of being a woman. A working
mother, especially the one who has the good fortune to be able to balance her home and work,
enjoys the stimulation that a job or career provides. She develops the ability of upraise a useful
member of society and at the same time gains financial independence.
Objectives of the study: the aim of the study to assess the level of guilt feelings regarding child
caring among working mothers in selected institutions of Punjab. To determine the association of
guilt feelings regarding child caring with selected socio-demographic variables.
Material and methods: A quantitative research approach and a descriptive design was used
Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used to select 50 working mothers,
Questionnaire method was used to collect data by using guilt complex assessment scale for
working mothers.
Results: The study finding reveals that level of guilt feelings regarding child caring among
working mothers includes majority of working mothers that is 80% had mild level of guilt
feelings followed by 14% working mothers had moderate level of guilt feelings, 6%. Working
mothers had no guilt feelings and no one had severe level of guilt feelings.
Conclusion: Most of the working mothers had mild guilt feelings 80% regarding child caring. In
socio- demographic variables qualification, occupation had association with working mother’s
guilt feelings where as other variables like age, family type, number of children, children age,
area of living, religion had no association with working mother’s guilt feelings.