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Effects of Concerns About Child Care Among Single, Employed Black Mothers with Preschool Children
Author(s) -
Jackson Aurora P.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1023/a:1024686901147
Subject(s) - psychology , feeling , developmental psychology , health psychology , welfare , preference , perception , child care , single mothers , public health , clinical psychology , medicine , social psychology , nursing , neuroscience , political science , law , economics , microeconomics
This study investigated whether differences in child care arrangements and mothers' attitudes about leaving their child in nonmaternal care were associated with maternal psychological well‐being and perceptions of children in a sample of single, employed, low‐income, Black mothers who were former welfare recipients. Feelings of discomfort with regard to nonmaternal care were associated with higher levels of maternal depressive symptomatology, which, in turn, predicted more negative perceptions of children. Preference for employment and increased working hours were associated with greater life satisfaction. Maternal education and the gender of the child were important moderating variables. Type of child care arrangement was nonsignificant. Policy implications are discussed.