Childcare Responsibilities Research Articles

Supporting community health workers in fragile settings from a gender perspective: a qualitative study

ObjectiveTo explore how gender influences the way community health workers (CHWs) are managed and supported and the effects on their work experiences.SettingTwo districts in three fragile countries. Sierra Leone—Kenema and...

Predictors of negative psychosocial and health behavior impact of COVID-19 among young adults.

Given the global impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on mental and physical health, we examined young adults’ changes in mental health, intimate relationship quality, alcohol use and weight-related behaviors during COVID-19 and their correlates (depressive symptoms, resilience, social context and COVID-19-related factors). We analyzed data from a longitudinal study of 1082 young adults across six metropolitan areas (Mage = 24.76 ± 4.70; 51.8% female; 73.6% White and 12.5% Hispanic), using multivariate linear regressions for continuous outcomes (magnitude of mental health impact) and logistic regressions for categorical outcomes (decreased relationship quality, physical activity and nutrition and increased alcohol use and sedentary behavior). Of five negative mental health impacts assessed, participants reported experiencing an average of 3.54 (SD = 5.46), experiencing more correlated with increased childcare responsibilities and lower resilience. Additionally, 23.6% of those in relationships experienced negative relationship impact, 41.3% increased alcohol use, 47.2% decreased physical activity, 74.0% were more sedentary and 34.7% experienced poorer nutrition, all of which was predicted by greater depressive symptoms. Additionally, lower resilience predicted negative relationship impact and poorer nutrition and social context/roles correlated with various outcomes (e.g. relationships and alcohol use). Interventions to reduce negative health behaviors given societal stressors should address key psychosocial and situational factors, including depressive symptoms and resilience.

Women's Substance Use and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PurposeWomen are experiencing greater unemployment and increased stress from childcare responsibilities than men during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women with these experiences may be at particular risk for mental illness and increased substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the study was to assess women's substance use, mental health, and experiences of COVID-19 pandemic impacts.MethodsA national online survey was administered to adult women from September to November 2020. The survey included questionnaires assessing mental health, loneliness, intolerance for uncertainty, social support, substance use, and intimate partner violence (IPV).ResultsA total of 499 women responded; most were White, college educated, and in their mid-30s. Of the 20.24% who acknowledged at least one IPV problem, 29.7% stated that their IPV problems have gotten worse since the pandemic began, and 16.83% said that they have increased their drug or alcohol use to cope with their relationship problems. Anxiety, perceived daily impact of COVID-19, and lower self-efficacy were significant predictors of COVID-19 anxiety. Those with risky alcohol use had significantly higher anxiety (p = .028) and depression (p = .032) than those with low-risk alcohol use.ConclusionsGreater anxiety about COVID-19, greater reported changes in daily life due to the pandemic, and high-risk alcohol use are related to greater mental health–related distress among women. For some, IPV has gotten worse during the pandemic and drug or alcohol use is a coping mechanism.

Habla conmigo, daddy! Fathers' language input in North American bilingual Latinx families.

This study examines the language environments of bilingually raised Latinx infants (n=37) in mother-father families of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, with a focus on paternal parentese, a speaking style distinguished by higher pitch, slower tempo, and exaggerated intonation. Two daylong audio recordings were collected on weekends, when both parents were at home. Paternal, maternal, and infant speech variables were quantified through automatic and manual analyses. Most infants experienced Spanish and English within child-directed speech, and language mixing was common in mothers and fathers. Adjusting for demographic variables, infants heard 50.4% less talk from men compared to women, and 43.4% less parentese from fathers compared to mothers. However, when controlling for overall speech amount, the rate of parentese use did not differ between mothers and fathers, demonstrating that, contrary to the stereotype, fathers in Latinx families adjust their speech in verbal interactions with their infants. An asymmetry emerged, where paternal parentese was associated with paternal knowledge of language development but not with paternal involvement in childcare responsibilities; the opposite was true for paternal speech amount. Controlling for maternal contributions, paternal parentese was predictive of concurrent parent-infant turn-taking and infant language vocalizations, demonstrating its important role in infant language development.

The Role of Intimate Partner Violence, Couple Dissatisfaction and Parenting Behaviors in Understanding Parental Burnout

Parental burnout (PB), a relatively new and under-studied construct, is defined as a condition resulting from chronic parenting stress. While recent research confirmed its negative associations with familial variables, such as relationship satisfaction and positive parenting practices, little is known about the role of intimate partner violence (IPV) and how it relates to parental burnout. The present study, therefore, aimed to extend existing knowledge on chronic parenting stress by 1) testing for the mediational role of couple dissatisfaction in explaining the link from IPV victimization to PB as well as the link from IPV victimization to dysfunctional parenting, and 2) investigating how specialist gender roles and parental responsibilities for child care relate to IPV victimization and PB. Data collection was part of an international collaboration on factors related to parental satisfaction and exhaustion across different countries. Self-report data from Austrian mothers (N = 121) were collected online and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that couple dissatisfaction mediates the link from IPV victimization to PB, as well as IPV victimization to dysfunctional parenting. Furthermore, only specialist gender roles were significantly related to IPV, while parental responsibilities for child care did not significantly relate to experiences of violence. Additionally, neither specialist gender roles nor parental responsibilities were significantly associated with PB in the final model. Overall, our findings connect to family models, such as the Family System Theory and Spillover Theory, underscoring the importance of couples’ relationship quality for understanding parental burnout and parenting behaviors in mothers.

Gender differences in housework and childcare among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ObjectivesAlthough gender stereotypes regarding paid work and unpaid work are changing, most wives are responsible for taking care of the family and home in Japan. It is unclear how time spent on housework and childcare has changed between working men and women during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Japan. The purpose of this study is to investigate how working men and women’s responsibilities for housework and childcare changed during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Japan depending on work hours, job type, the number of employees in the workplace, and frequency of telecommuting.MethodsA cross‐sectional analysis (N = 14,454) was conducted using data from an Internet monitoring study (CORoNa Work Project), which was conducted in December 2020. A multilevel logistic model with nested prefectures of residence was conducted to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for change in time devoted to housework and childcare among men and women adjusting for age, household income, presence of spouse who work, work hours, job type, the number of employees in the workplace, frequency of telecommuting, and the incidence rate of COVID‐19 by prefecture.ResultsMore women tended to perceive that their time of housework and/or childcare had been changed (increased housework: OR 1.92, 95% CI [1.71–2.16], P < .001; decreased workhours: 1.66 (1.25–2.19), P < .001: increased childcare: OR 1.58, 95% CI [1.29–1.92], P < .001; decreased childcare: 1.11 (0.62–2.00), P = .719).ConclusionsThe time spent by women on housework and childcare changed significantly compared to men during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Japan.

Mental disorder and first-time marriage formation among non-Western migrant women: A national register study

PurposeStudies show that there is a mental health selection into marriage among the general population. This study explored the association between mental disorder and marriage formation among non-Western migrant women living in Norway, and whether the association varied with region of origin, income, education and having a dependent child. MethodsUsing linked national register data, we followed 49,329 non-Western never married migrant women aged 18-60 living in Norway between 2006 and 2014. As a proxy for mental disorders, we investigated whether outpatient mental health service use was associated with marital formation using discrete time logistic regression analyses. ResultOverall, outpatient mental health service use was associated with lower odds of marital formation, even after controlling for sociodemographic factors. Interaction analyses suggested that the relationship was weaker for South Asian women, who had the highest odds of marriage formation, compared with Sub-Saharan African women, who had the lowest. The relationship was also stronger for women with children and women with low incomes. ConclusionMental health selection effects may depend on the universality of marriage. Since marriage may be associated with psychosocial and economic benefits, it is important to identify and treat mental disorder among non-Western migrant women, particularly those with childcare responsibilities and low income.

Prenatal telemedicine during COVID-19: patterns of use and barriers to access.

ObjectiveTo evaluate patient experience with a prenatal telemedicine visit and identify barriers to accessing telemedicine among rural pregnant people in northern New England during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and MethodsWe conducted a postvisit electronic survey of pregnant people who successfully participated in a prenatal telemedicine visit at a rural academic medical center in Northern New England. Nineteen questions were included in 5 domains: (1) engagement with prenatal care; (2) barriers to telemedicine and in person healthcare; (3) experience of prenatal care; (4) remote pregnancy surveillance tools; and (5) sources of COVID-19 information.ResultsResponses were obtained from 164 pregnant people. Forty percent of participants had participated in an audio-only telemedicine visit, and 60% in a video telemedicine visit. The visit was easy or somewhat easy for 79% of respondents and somewhat difficult or difficult for 6.8%. The most common barrier to accessing telemedicine was poor internet or phone connectivity, followed by childcare responsibilities, lack of equipment, and lack of privacy. Participants also engaged in additional remote prenatal care including phone calls with registered nurses (7.6%), communication with the obstetrics team through a secure health messaging portal (21.1%), and home health monitoring (76.3%).Discussion and ConclusionsIn this survey, evaluating the experience of pregnant people participating in a prenatal telemedicine visit during the COVID-19 pandemic, respondents had a positive experience with telemedicine overall, but also identified significant barriers to participation including issues with connectivity and lack of equipment for the visit. Most participants used telemedicine in combination with other tools for remote self-care.

The evolving impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on gender inequality in the US labor market: The COVID motherhood penalty

AbstractWe explore whether COVID‐19 disproportionately affected women in the labor market using Current Population Survey data through the end of 2020. We find that male–female gaps in the employment‐to‐population ratio and hours worked for women with school‐age children have widened but not for those with younger children. Triple‐difference estimates are consistent with most of the reductions observed for women with school‐age children being attributable to additional childcare responsibilities (the “COVID motherhood penalty”). Conducting decompositions, we find women had a greater likelihood to telework, higher education levels and a less‐impacted occupational distribution, which all contributed to lessening negative impacts relative to men.

CHILD CUSTODY: A RIGHT OR A DUTY (A STUDY OF AN APPROACH TO AMEND ARTICLE 57 OF THE IRAQI PERSONAL STATUS LAW)

The current century has witnessed a revolution in different fields which required some legal rules to be reformulated to adapt with the volume of challenges imposed by the contemporary life on marriage life in general, on the children, which are the most important thing that may result from marriage, and on the importance of caring for their needs. As God has divided the parents’ duties in caring for their children throughout the stages of their liv.es. He laid upon the mother the responsibility of caring for children starting from pregnancy, delivery, breastfeeding until infancy. While He, especially, assigned the father the responsibility of what comes after. But sometimes a child may lose one or both parents; and here the question arises about who shall take custody and what is the period required to satisfy that right. Article (57) of Personal Status Law No. (188) for the year 1959 has answered this question with its nine clauses and confirmed the necessity of caring for the child’s best interest and prioritizing it over the parents’ rights. However, the Iraqi Parliament has adopted an amendment of this Article in its latest proposals under the pretext of being in line with changes of everyday life with the assurance of applying the spirit of Islamic Law. It discussed the transmission of the child’s custody from the mother to the father after the age of seven in opposition to the current law that grants the mother this right until the child turns fifteen years of age; it also stipulated that the mother shall not get married in order to attain custody over the child which is regarded as a Statutory Offence represented in forcing the mother not to get married during which she holds custody over the child. Meanwhile, it did not stipulate over the father abstinence from marriage in order to attain custody over his children. The amendments have also showcased the entitlement of the grandfather’s right in custody rather than the mother in case the father died or didn’t fulfill the conditions of custody. By doing so, the rule would deprive the mother from her child upon turning seven years of age without attention being paid to the subsequential feeling of instability such decision causes to the child. The parliament should have tried to balance between the child’s right of maternal tenderness or paternal security. This is the aim of our research which will shed light on this subject in two scopes, the first of which focuses on educating the people of the right of custody and its period, and the second of which is dedicated to discussion of amendments and making proper recommendation.

Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Medications Danger in Children

Source: Halmo LS, Wang GS, Reynolds KM, et al. Pediatric fatalities associated with over-the-counter cough and cold medications [published online ahead of print October 4, 2021]. Pediatrics. 2021: e2020049536; doi.10.1542/peds.2020-049536Investigators from multiple institutions conducted a study to describe fatalities due to ingestion of cough and cold medications (CCMs) in children following a 2008 FDA recommendation to not use these products in children <2 years old and a labelling change by drug manufacturers to not use in children <4 years old. Cases were identified by the Pediatric Cough and Cold Safety Surveillance System that collected data on ingestions from multiple sources, including poison control centers, FDA reporting systems, and media reports. Cases were children <12 years old who died after oral exposure to 1 or more of 8 index ingredients (brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, guaifenesin, phenylephrine, or pseudoephedrine) between 2008 and 2016. All case data available and autopsy reports were reviewed by an expert panel that classified identified fatalities as related, potentially related, or unrelated to CCMs; some cases could not be classified. The primary study outcome was a fatality related or potentially related to CCMs. Deaths were judged to be from therapeutic, nontherapeutic, or unknown intent, and by dose (therapeutic, supratherapeutic, or unknown). The expert panel also conducted a root cause analysis to document other factors that might have contributed to the child’s death.There were 7,983 cases of adverse events associated with CCMs identified by the Pediatric Cough and Cold Safety Surveillance System. Among these were 188 fatalities (2.3%). After review, 40 cases were judged to be related or potentially related to an index ingredient and included in the analysis. Overall, 24 cases (60%) occurred in children <2 years old and 29 (72.5%) in those <4 years old; 26 deaths (65%) occurred in boys. The CCM was administered by a parent or caregiver in 28 cases. All 3 cases in which the child self-administered the CCM involved a solid adult-formulation diphenhydramine product. Overall, 22 fatalities (55%) were from nontherapeutic use, 6 (15%) from therapeutic use, and in 12 cases therapeutic intent could not be determined. Dose was judged to be supratherapeutic in 8 cases (20%) and could not be determined in 32. At least 1 additional ingredient besides the index CCM was involved in 17 fatalities; the most common additional ingredients were opioids (N = 11). Among the 40 fatalities, 7 (17.5%) were related to use of a CCM to sedate a child, and 6 (15%) were from the use of a CCM to murder the child.The authors conclude that pediatric fatalities associated with CCMs primarily occur in younger children and after intentional nontherapeutic administration by a caregiver.Dr Alissa has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device.Adverse drug events in children associated with CCM have been the center of discussion for more than a decade.1 Numerous articles have been written about the risk of CCM ingestions for therapeutic and nontherapeutic intent, in therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses.2 The consensus in these reports is that no fatality involves a therapeutic dose of CCM.2The misuse of over-the-counter medications including diphenhydramine has become a worldwide health concern.3 Palmer et al found that exposures to diphenhydramine-only products are the most common type of exposure that leads to adverse events associated with CCM in children.4 Despite international and national warnings, physicians frequently overprescribe and parents overuse CCM for upper respiratory tract infection in young children.5CCM were a major category of pharmaceuticals maliciously administered to children less than 2 years old in a retrospective database study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado. Do caregivers administer a sedating agent simply as a break from the responsibilities of childcare?6The current study’s strength is the multiple national sources used to collect the data. Including specific index ingredients also is a strength of the study. The main limitation is the lack of information about the group of children who died due to the ingestion of an unknown dose of CCM.CCM remains dangerous for all children, especially those <2 years old. More restricted use is recommended.Physicians consider prescribing for children >12 months of age a sweet alternative to CCMs that is safe and efficacious: honey. (See AAP Grand Rounds. 2013;29[2]:14.)7

Intervenções para redução do estresse para pais/famílias de crianças com doenças crônicas: uma revisão de escopo

INTRODUCTION: In consideration of the changes and repercussions on the family dynamics, apart from childcare responsibilities, parents and caregivers of children with chronic disease face frequent stressors, resulting in rising levels of stress. This review thus aims to analyse studies that assessed the efficacy of psychosocial interventions directed at stress management among parents and family members of children with the most prevalent chronic diseases (cancer, asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular disease). METHOD: This study classifies as a scoping review. The literature search included articles published in five electronic databases (EBSCO, b-On, PubMed, Scielo and Web of Science), in line with the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: A total of 15 articles were selected. Interventions varied in relation to outcomes, study design, sample, modalities and strategies. Of the 15 studies, 53% found no significant differences in participants stress levels or between the intervention group and the control group, 40% showed a significant decrease in participants stress levels, and 7% presented mixed results with improvements in some emotional dimensions after the intervention. DISCUSSION: Despite the mixed results with regards to the levels of stress, the significant results might justify the importance of performing such interventions among this population. Interventions that are personalized and directed at this populations needs might be effective at reducing stress levels.

Precarious Employment amongst Low Income Single Mothers in Malaysia: The Implications on Family Wellbeing

Single motherhood has been well documented to have adverse impacts on financial wellbeing and they are prone to fall into poverty trap. In Malaysia, the term single mother generally refers to widowed and divorced mothers. Income earned from employment is one of the main sources of livelihood for single mothers, which is sometimes supplemented by child support and other transfers such as pension, welfare assistance, tithe (zakat) and hands out. The types of employment held by low income single mothers are rather limited due to their level of educational attainment, locality, mobility and childcare responsibility. These barriers seem to restrict their work choices and they have to find ways around it, usually by entering informal employment or self-employment sectors. This study discusses employment characteristics of single mothers from the lowest quantile of the society. It is important to explore this issue as these mothers are likely raising their children in constant hardship. This study employs a qualitative quest to gain a deeper understanding of this issue. The respondents of this study come from different states in Peninsular Malaysia. Upon completion of this study, we could suggest that precarious employment of single mothers posed a real threat for the wellbeing of their family. Those involved in informal sectors are the most vulnerable. Without a proper employment contract as in formal sectors, they have no work benefits or protection against unforeseen circumstances. Insufficient and irregular income worry them endlessly as the survival of their family is at stake. Moreover, worries about financial situations could also lead to other health concerns. The findings of this study emphasize the urgency of government intervention that is well planned and targeted. The society at large should also be more sensitive and empathetic towards single mothers and their children. Indeed, children living in poverty should not be tolerated at all.

Assessing the Effect of Work-Life Balance Initiatives on Organizational Citizenship Behaviour

The concept of work-life balance developed on the premise that career and personal life should not be seen as competing concerns but as balanced components of one’s overall existence. Initiatives to promote work-life balance become mandatory requirements for employees to maximize productivity and retain talent. This study examines the effect of work-life balance initiatives on organizational citizenship behavior in the case of commercial bank branches in Werabe (Ethiopia). Descriptive and explanatory research designs were employed by using a quantitative research approach. The data was collected through a standard questionnaire. The study used the census method. 150 employees from nine different commercial bank branches in Worabe town were selected to provide the study’s primary data. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The study found that most employees’ perceptions were low for all significant work-life balance initiative variables included in this study; they were also medium in perceiving organizational citizenship behavior. Among the independent variables under investigation, three of them (flexible work arrangements, work leave programs, and dependent care initiatives) have positive and significant effects on organizational citizenship behavior. In contrast, the other two (working hours and workload) negatively and significantly affect organizational citizenship behavior. The beta coefficients of this study indicated that flexible work arrangements have a high effect on organizational citizenship behavior, followed by work leave programs. Therefore, it is better to adopt them in the organization. The influence of the abovementioned variables on organizational citizenship behavior is significant. This study fills this gap and extends the understanding of the role of variables. The bank’s management needs to offer initiatives by allowing employees to schedule their time and assisting and advising them on childcare costs and responsibilities such as schools, offering extended leave if something goes wrong, and sharing charges for education.

Women Participation in Rural Tourism: A Case of Ella, Sri Lanka

Tourism industry is one of sectors that have potential to develop and grow in the next few years in Sri Lanka. According to Tourism Development Strategy of Sri Lanka, tourism industry is expected to be the largest foreign exchange earner by 2024. The principal focus of this study was to explore major factors that affect women’s participation and non-participation in the hospitality industry in Ella DS division Sri Lanka. The study used a deductive approach, and primary data were collected through a self-administered structured questionnaire. Samples were 60 women, consisting of thirty women involved in the hospitality industry and thirty women of the non-hospitality industry, randomly selected. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The results found that the differences in language skills and problem-solving had the most significant effect on women’s participation in hospitality industry. Besides, childcare responsibility and lack of experience were affected women’s involvement in this industry. The results also showed that most of the non-hospitality workers have language barriers (33.3%), lack of knowledge about tourism industry (23.3%), and lack of opportunities to engage in tourism work (13.3%). Based on the results, 53.3% of 30 non-hospitality workers had an idea to be involved in tourism and hospitality industry in the future, while the remaining 46.6% had no idea to be involved.

Examining Mental and Physical Health Status Among Sandwich Generation Caregivers

With a sample of 54,076 caregivers, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS, 2015-2017) provides an opportunity to assess the impact of caregiving on U.S. adults varying in age, gender, and race. We focused on sandwich generation (SG) caregivers, aged 30-59, with childcare and eldercare responsibilities (n=8,805). In multivariate regression models of mental and physical health, we evaluated the association of age, gender, race and caregiving factors controlling for marital status, education, housing status, income, employment status, and self-rated health status. SG caregivers were predominantly female (65.6%), white (69.6%), black (13%) and were caring for a parent/parent-in-law (50%) or another relative (26.4%). Age, gender, and race were associated with mental health outcomes such that SG caregivers who were younger (aged 30-39), female, and white reported poorer mental health during the past month (p<.05). Older (aged 50-59), female, and white SG caregivers reported poorer physical health during the past month (p<.05). Caregiving factors were not associated with mental health, but SG caregivers who had been providing care for a longer period of time were more likely to report poor physical health in the past month. Finally, education, income, employment, housing status, and self-rated health status were statistically significant covariates in both models (p<.05). These findings demonstrate that young caregivers are at risk for poor mental health; older caregivers for poor physical health. Being female, white, with lower socioeconomic status is associated with poor mental and physical health. Future research should address the unique needs of SG caregivers with dual caregiving responsibilities.

What Gender-Neutral Activation? Understanding the Gender Sanction Gap in Germany’s Welfare System

Abstract Women are half as likely to be sanctioned as men in Germany’s means-tested welfare system, despite sanctions not explicitly being a gendered activation measure. I investigate the reasons underlying the “gender sanction gap” with a decomposition analysis on a sample from registry data. Findings show differences between women and men in their distributions on family-related and human-capital-related variables explain much of the gap. Results further suggest gender differences in behavior and treatment by public employment services also contribute to the gap, with women more frequently being exempted from sanctions due to childcare responsibilities.

\u201cCOVID affected us all:\u201d the birth and postnatal health experiences of resettled Syrian refugee women during COVID-19 in Canada

BackgroundPrior to COVID-19, postnatal resettled refugee women in Canada reported barriers to healthcare and low levels of social support, contributing to maternal health morbidities. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be further exacerbating health inequities for marginalized populations. The experiences of resettled refugee women are not fully known.AimTo understand Syrian refugee women’s experiences accessing postnatal healthcare services and supports during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsSemi-structured, virtual interviews were conducted with eight resettled Syrian refugee women living in Nova Scotia (Canada) who were postnatal between March and August 2020. Data analysis was informed by constructivist grounded theory.FindingsThree themes emerged: “the impacts of COVID-19 on postnatal healthcare;” “loss of informal support;” and “grief and anxiety.” Women experienced difficult healthcare interactions, including socially and physically isolated deliveries, challenges accessing in-person interpreters, and cancelled or unavailable in-home services (e.g., public health nurse and doula visits). Increased childcare responsibilities and limited informal supports due to pandemic restrictions left women feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Stay-at-home orders resulted in some women reporting feelings of isolation and loss, as they were unable to share in person postnatal moments with friends and family, ultimately impacting their mental wellness.ConclusionsCOVID-19 and associated public health restrictions had significant impacts on postnatal Syrian refugee women. Data presented in this study demonstrated the ways in which the pandemic environment and related restrictions amplified pre-existing barriers to care and postnatal health inequalities for resettled refugee women—particularly a lack of postnatal informal supports and systemic barriers to care.

Examining gender role attitude as a moderator of personality, social support, and childcare responsibilities in women’s work-life balance

The participation of women in the workforce creates challenges and problems. Those with various roles in their lives must be good at playing and balancing these successfully. This study focuses on the work-life balance factor by exploring the predictor factors including personality, family social support, and childcare responsibilities, as moderated by gender role attitude. A work/ nonwork interference and enhancement scale, mini-IPIP, gender role beliefs scale, and social support scale were developed for the data collection. A sample of 220 married female workers was identified using purposive sampling. The data analysis, which used multiple regression and a modgraph, shows a significant effect of personality, social support, and childcare responsibilities on the work-life balance moderated by gender role attitude. Four independent variables with significant influence are neuroticism, openness to experiencing family support, gender role attitude and there is a moderating effect on neuroticism and family support. The implication is the need to provide a comfortable work environment and arrangement of work patterns so that women's work-life balance can be achieved positively.

A Year into the Pandemic: An Update on Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine.

The coronavirus pandemic revealed long-standing, unaddressed fissures in our systems, including dramatic gender inequities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) fields. Women have disproportionately carried the burden of childcare and other caregiving responsibilities during the pandemic, and there are strong indications that the pandemic will likely exacerbate preexisting disparities in the pipeline of women in STEMM and in leadership positions. Based on a literature review, our own experiences, and the experiences of our colleagues, we review promising strategies that have been implemented by funding bodies, journals, professional societies, and colleges/universities as well as additional strategies that might be helpful for these entities to implement to move forward with policies in place that address gender inequities and rebuild our institutional systems better. At this moment in time, institutions should collect data on metrics such as recruitment, retention, tenure/promotion, funding, professional society membership, awards/honors, and scientific publishing. These data will be essential in determining the impact of policies on women in STEMM to ensure they are having the intended effect as well as what future actions might be necessary in an iterative process.