Abstract
Motherhood involves dramatic physical and emotional changes, and in today's context, women often balance corporate roles with traditional responsibilities. Returning to work post-maternity leave is especially challenging, requiring women to juggle work and family while adapting to motherhood. Despite this, factors contributing to emotional distress among working mothers in South Asia have received limited academic attention. This qualitative study interviewed eight first-time manager-mothers in Sri Lankan private sector businesses, via semi-structured interviews, using snowball sampling. Thematic analysis identified key stressors: lack of emotional and physical family support, well-intentioned but counterproductive familial assistance, unsupportive work environments, and societal backlash. A significant finding was that extended family support for childcare often led to emotional distress, with family members making mothers feel guilty and embarrassed. This study fills a gap in the literature by focusing on Sri Lanka and emphasizes the need to educate extended families on the childcare expectations of working mothers.
Published Version
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