April 19, 2018

Juggling work and home easier for mums who enjoy their role

Psychology Fellow explores impact of burnout and workplace engagement on single mothers

When Dr Laura Robinson began her PhD, the line between her work and her home life became increasingly blurred.

As a single mother of three boys, Dr Robinson was immersed in the life she set out to explore – how mothers manage the tension between work and home.

“I was definitely living my research,” said Dr Robinson, who today (Thursday 19 April) celebrates her graduation from the University of Wollongong.

A Career Development Fellow in the School of Psychology, Dr Robinson had always been interested in the conflict faced by women who return to the workforce after having children.

“Most of the research had focused on the nuclear family, so two parents, a mother and father, and two children. But increasingly, households don’t look like that. We have more single-parent households than ever before,” she said.

“And much of the research has been negative. So I looked at single mothers and single-parent households to examine whether there is a positive side to returning to work.”

Dr Robinson’s research revealed that for women who combine motherhood and employment, a supportive workplace is paramount.

“There is always going to be conflict between work and home, but for women who enjoy their work, who have the opportunity for career development and feel supported, it is a positive experience. They feel enriched by their work,” she said.

“But for women who don’t feel supported, they are less likely to enjoy and be enriched by their work. Sole mothers, in particularly, experience the challenges of combining work and motherhood much more acutely.”

Burnout – defined as prolonged exhaustion – is a very real threat, particularly for single mothers.

Dr Robinson said burnout could have a detrimental impact on a mother’s mental health, which has a knock-on effect for her work and for her family.

“We each have our own levels of support within our family unit. Some sole mothers might have greater levels of support than partnered mothers. Often there is a view from businesses and organisations of ‘You chose to have children, so juggling work and family is your problem’. We used to say that it takes a village to raise a child but it’s no longer like that.

“Burnout has negative impact on a mother’s mental health and her ability to work and look after her family. Some people are good at managing the things that life throws at you, but some people might not be as resilient and need that extra level of support.”

Dr Robinson said her PhD revealed the need for organisations to ensure that mothers not only feel supported in their workplace but also are provided with appropriate development opportunities.

“Encouraging women to return to work after having children has economic and social benefits for the whole community.”

When it came to juggling her own competing priorities of work and family, Dr Robinson did what she could, when she could, a concept that is familiar to all working parents.

“I was studying late at night after my boys went to bed. I was studying while watching their hockey games. I really enjoyed being able to work and being so immersed in my research,” she said.

“I tried to do little bits continually and it helped me find more hours in the day.”