Open AccessMOTHER, CHILD, AND FAMILY FACTORS RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT OF SINGLE MOTHERS WITH LBW PRESCHOOLERS
Author(s) -
Youngblut JoAnne M.,
Singer Lynn T.,
Madigan Elizabeth A.,
Swegart Leslie A.,
Rodgers Willard L.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
psychology of women quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.416
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1471-6402
pISSN - 0361-6843
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-6402.1997.tb00111.x
Subject(s) - low birth weight , psychology , low income , preference , single mothers , family income , birth records , demography , developmental psychology , birth weight , medicine , pregnancy , demographic economics , economic growth , genetics , sociology , economics , biology , microeconomics
The purpose of this study was to identify maternal, child, and family factors related to the employment status and employment history of single mothers of low‐birth‐weight (LBW) and full‐term preschoolers. A sample of 121 female‐headed, single‐parent families with 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐year‐old LBW and full‐term children was recruited through admission records to three Level III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and birth records of two normal newborn nurseries. Results show that the birth of an LBW infant was not related to employment status, number of hours employed per week, or employment history for single mothers. Employed mothers had significantly more education and more positive attitudes toward employment. Controlling for other factors, never being married, and having more children, more federal income, and less positive employment attitudes were predictive of nonemployment. Both employed and nonemployed women expressed preference for employment.