Premium
Longitudinal Associations Between Maternal Work Stress, Negative Work‐Family Spillover, and Depressive Symptoms
Author(s) -
Goodman W. Benjamin,
Crouter Ann C.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2009.00550.x
Subject(s) - spillover effect , mediation , stressor , psychology , work (physics) , perception , developmental psychology , depressive symptoms , moderated mediation , longitudinal study , clinical psychology , social psychology , medicine , psychiatry , political science , cognition , economics , mechanical engineering , pathology , neuroscience , law , microeconomics , engineering
The current study examined associations over an 18‐month period between maternal work stressors, negative work‐family spillover, and depressive symptoms in a sample of 414 employed mothers with young children living in six predominantly nonmetropolitan counties in the Eastern United States. Results from a one‐group mediation model showed that a less flexible work environment and greater work pressure predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms and, further, that these associations were mediated by perceptions of negative work‐family spillover. Additionally, results from a two‐group mediation model suggested that work pressure predicted greater perceptions of spillover only for mothers employed full‐time. Findings suggest the need for policies that reduce levels of work stress and help mothers manage their work and family responsibilities.