“Much of the literature on maternal employment suggests that working increases income and enhances self-esteem. These factors are then thought to influence parenting behavior. So I expected working status to be a significant predictor of improved home life, but single working moms really didn’t get the boost I thought they’d get,” she said.
“Instead it seems that for single mothers the benefits associated with paid employment are offset by the added difficulties that accompany working, such as less time spent with their children,” she said.
However, job schedules did matter, and stable jobs on a day shift or with some flexibility—for example, a rotating shift—translated into a big boost in the home environment, said Lleras.
“Almost all the research on working moms has focused on number of hours worked per week and wages. But the flexibility of a rotating shift, which changes periodically from days to evenings to nights, may allow mothers to spend more time with their preschool children during waking hours. They have more time to form an attachment,” she said.
“If you don’t have stable day care, if you’re relying on family and friends, a rotating shift may work for you because a friend or relative may be able to take care of the baby in the evening or at night even if these persons work during the day. Rotating shifts may provide just enough flexibility to allow a single mom to patch a reliable child-care schedule together,” she said.
Lleras said her study highlights the need for flextime and standard working hours for single moms with preschool-aged children. The results also point to a growing need for high-quality, affordable day care that meets the needs of single working mothers who often work nonstandard hours, she said.
Education, Daytime Hours, And Job Flexibility Most Help Single Moms Of Preschoolers: