The interrelated effects of perceived social support, social pressure, social perceptions, and role -related guilt on stress, life satisfaction, and parental satisfaction of mothers with preschool children: The heart of the maternal dilemma

The cultural beliefs and social expectations held about mothers of preschool children, and the social support offered to them, are based on underlying assumptions constructed out of both scientific and pseudo-scientific notions. Role choices and pressures have radically changed since the feminist movement.;This investigation adds insight and knowledge about the factors that alleviate and/or contribute to stress, life satisfaction, and parental satisfaction in mothers of preschool children. It also investigates how these factors are affected by their role choice as either a working mother (WM) or stay-at-home mother (SHM). Exploratory data were gathered regarding social perceptions of WM and SHM, social pressures, role guilt, time guilt, and self-reliance pressure.;Data were collected on 168 married, Caucasian mothers of preschool children. Both WM and SHM experience high stress; however, it is likely that their sources of stress are different. Perceived social support of spouse (PSS-S) and friends (PSS-F), function as important coping resources in many ways. Separate regression analyses found that PSS predicts increased parental satisfaction (10% of variance), life satisfaction (6% of variance), and decreased stress (31% of variance). Separate regression analysis also indicated that PSS moderates the relationship between stress and life satisfaction, and stress and parental satisfaction. Supportiveness of one's spouse is the most salient predictor of stress. PSS-S correlates with reduced role guilt. PSS-F correlates with less time guilt and social pressure. WM and SHM experience equal life satisfaction, and SHM have greater parental satisfaction.;Society holds both positive and negative perceptions of WM and SHM, leaving many of them feeling "damned if they do and damned if they don't." SHM are perceived by society as more family oriented, nurturing, loving, emotionally expressive, lazy, boring, and committed to their children. WM are viewed as more independent, ambitious, selfish, intelligent, educated, and informed than SHM. Interestingly, both role choices are perceived as unacceptable, however, WM are perceived as more unacceptable than SHM. Although contradictory social expectations to maintain a career and stay-at-home full time are unrealistic, they are so strong that many mothers are simply carrying them out (albeit with stress, role guilt, time guilt, and decreased life satisfaction), striving to live up to them.