Working mothers and stay at home mothers: A comparison of experiences of anger, assertiveness, depression and masochism

This research study investigates the differences between the emotional experience of working mothers versus stay-at-home mothers. Research has suggested that having children does not contribute significantly to feelings of happiness. It has also indicated that, on the one hand, employment adds to the distress of mothers, and on the other hand, it has shown that employment buffers against the stress of motherhood. Motherhood brings with it a range of emotional experiences not previously felt. These might include feelings of anger, depression, masochism and hampered assertiveness. This study found that full-time working mothers were less depressed than stay-at-home mothers. When data from part-time working mothers and stay-at-home mothers were combined it was also found that working mothers experienced less state anger (specifically expressing anger verbally and physically) than stay-at-home mothers. Further, a number of interesting correlations were found among the study variables, and whereas these were not necessarily related to motherhood or employment status, they were nonetheless, intriguing. These included associations between lack of assertiveness and masochism, depression and suppressing anger, masochism and suppressing anger, sadism and anger, depression and anger, and depression and masochism.