Childcare Responsibilities Research Articles

Burnout and Career Satisfaction in Women Neurologists in the United States.

Professional burnout is a growing problem among physicians. Neurology has been found to be one of the specialties with the highest prevalence for burnout. However, little is known about gender-specific risk factors. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the prevalence of burnout among a sample of women neurologists in the United States and (2) to identify predictive factors leading to burnout. An online survey was distributed to 798 U.S. women neurologists through the closed Facebook group Women Neurologists Group. Burnout was assessed with the Mini-Z survey. Additional questions assessed current practice settings, family and childcare responsibilities, work-life balance, gender discrimination experiences, career satisfaction, and plans for career changes. The survey received 181 responses, yielding a 22.7% response rate. Most respondents were 1-10 years post-training and 35.4% indicated they felt neutral or dissatisfied toward their current job; 42.6% of respondents reported symptoms of burnout. Working in a high stress environment, lack of control over the work schedule, a higher number of hours at work, and self-reported gender discrimination were each independent predictive factors for burnout. Having more children was associated with decreased likelihood of becoming a physician again, and less than a third of respondents with three or more children indicated they would become a physician again. While 91.1% of respondents considered themselves effective with electronic health record use, 56.9% indicated insufficient time for documentation. Professional burnout and career dissatisfaction have high prevalence in women neurologists and threaten the future of the neurology workforce. There is an urgent need for interventions to alleviate stressors associated with burnout and measures to reduce gender discrimination.

The Victoria Mxenge: gendered formalizing housing and community design strategies out of Cape Town, South Africa

Women maintain a tenuous grasp on shelter as the unique challenges of lower incomes, less stable employment, and greater childcare responsibilities compromise their ability to obtain shelter compared to male counterparts. The Victoria Mxenge women negotiated for land, developed site plans, designed, and built their own houses. This ethnographic case study explores the Victoria Mxenge housing process, discovering how Victoria Mxenge participants describe their experiences designing, building, and occupying their own homes. The lived experiences of the Victoria Mxenge women reveal themes and strategies surrounding women and shelter. Community themes speak to circulating possibility, collective strength and ritual, and the importance of physically safe spaces for women. On an individual level, the deeply personal nature of dwelling reveals motivations of sanctuary, self, and meeting the daily necessities of life. Together, these themes and strategies reveal the gender-specific design strategies of low-income women relating to their homes and communities, highlighting the power of gendered participation in formalizing strategies out of informal housing.

Factors Influencing Career Progression of Working-Class Married Women in Oyo Metropolis

The objectives of this study were to determine the factors influencing career progression of working-class married women in Oyo metropolis and to examine the influence of demographic variables of age, educational attainment, and job cadre on the respondents’ view. The purposive and convenient sampling technique was used to select 220 participants; out of which, 209 questionnaire forms were adequate for data analysis. The questionnaire was a self-structured type, with a test re-test reliability coefficient of 0.82. A 3-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistics was used to test hypothesis at 0.05 alpha level. The findings of the study revealed that childcare responsibilities, societal discrimination against women and sexual harassment from men are the factors influencing career progression of working-class married women in Oyo metropolis. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that working-class married women should seek the support of their husbands on child care; and the society should avoid discrimination against women in the workforce among others.

A study about the characteristics of the contemporary parental exercise and care network

Abstract Considering the transformations that have occurred in the ways contemporary families operate, we propose an investigation on how heterosexual couples understand and exercise parenting, as well as on how they deal with the child care network. Based on qualitative methodology, 8 couples and their children’s pediatricians and educational coordinators were interviewed. The analysis of the results covered two categories: (1) The Construction of Parenthood and Care Network, and (2) Parental Exercise. Interviews were analyzed based on the perspective of psychoanalysis and psychosocial studies. We identified three possibilities for parenthood appropriation: (a) greater fluidity in parental roles, (b) egalitarian parental care, in which a greater value was assigned to the maternal figure, especially in the discourse made by parents and; (c) disruption with gender binarism in the parental exercise, but with a predominance of the responsibility for child care assigned to one of the spouses. As for sharing child care related tasks, both pediatricians and schools were seen as important parental tools.

The Impact of Family Co-Residence and Childcare on Children's Cognitive Skill

We investigate the impact of family co-residence structure and the allocation of major childcare responsibility across generations on a child's cognitive development. Using data from China, we find that children living in multigenerational families generally perform better in their cognitive tests after controlling for other factors. This result holds only for elementary school children, but not for middle school children. However, children who live only with their parents and children who live only with their grandparents (the left-behind children) do not show a significant difference in their cognitive performance. Moreover, we find that the effect of family environment differs between boys and girls. Girls from multigenerational families with grandparents as the main caregiver generally do better than other girls; while for boys, three-generation co-residence has a positive impact regardless of who the main caregiver is. Additionally, there is some evidence that the co-residence and childcare arrangements respond to the cognitive performance of girls more than boys. Our exploration of behavioral factors as potential operating mechanisms in explaining our findings indicates that the influences of family environment are complex and subtle.

Time Use and Perceptions of Childcare Responsibilities: Comparison of Mothers of Adolescents With Disabilities and Mothers of Adolescents With Typical Development

Time Use and Perceptions of Childcare Responsibilities: Comparison of Mothers of Adolescents With Disabilities and Mothers of Adolescents With Typical Development

The problem is in practice: policy support and employer support for fathers’ participation in childcare in Slovenia

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the findings of the 2015–2016 research project ‘Fathers and Employers in Action’ conducted to find out how employment situations influence fathering in Slovenia. We examine fathers’ reconciliation of paid work and childcare responsibilities, the impact of various factors on fathers’ practices, as well as managers’ views of work-life balance in their companies and their personal experience. The empirical material was obtained through an on-line survey of 383 employed fathers and interviews with 11 managers, all with a child under 18. Apart from descriptive analysis, we conducted a multivariate analysis with time used for childcare as a dependent variable. Slovenian fathers reported that their employers offered very few measures aimed at facilitating reconciliation of work and family and did not understand their need and wish to participate in childcare. Fathers in managerial positions tend to combine uninterrupted careers with ‘weekend fatherhood’. The analysis showed the interaction of factors affecting fathers’ work-life balance. It also pointed to a need for employers to more strongly enhance their male employees’ work-life balance, both by supporting the use of available statutory provisions, such as paternity and parental leaves, and by implementing measures at the organizational level.

Should Self-Sampling Be an Option for Women in the United States?

As we have moved forward with HPV testing, studies have increasingly evaluated not only clinician-collected samples but also self-collected samples.16,17 The data for in-office primary HPV screening are very strong and date back at least 15 years. Human papillomavirus primary screening performed by a clinician is highly sensitive for detection of cervical precancer or cancer.18 Self-sampling has been suggested as an alternative to clinician-collected sampling because office-based screening creates barriers including forgetting to make an appointment and difficulty getting away from work and childcare responsibilities.2 Although self-sampling in clinical offices could also increase coverage, self-sampling at home has been touted mainly as an alternative to in-office Pap test for primary screening. Self-sampling unfortunately cannot live up to these high expectations. Self-Sampling Will Not Overcome Ideological Barriers to Screening Unfortunately, despite high rates of screening, the incidence of cervical cancer and more importantly the mortality from cervical cancer have not changed significantly in the last 10 years. Disparities remain, with higher cancer incidence among Hispanic and black women and higher mortality in black women in the US. Whereas lower screening rates in Hispanic women may explain some of these disparities, screening rates among black women are similar to those of white women.19,20 Healthcare access, defined as available facilities and insurance coverage, is necessary for screening compliance, and the reasons for failing to screen or follow up are more complex.21 A number of underscreened women have healthcare access but may fail to screen or follow up on abnormal results because of resource barriers, attitudinal issues including fatalism, anticipatory fear, and/or concerns about procedures and bad news. These issues may be compounded in minority or impoverished patients who may feel disrespected by the healthcare system.22–24 Addressing ideological barriers will be crucial to increase screening and follow-up among at-risk women—and these barriers are unlikely to be addressed by self-sampling.

'I should not feed such a weak woman'. Intimate partner violence among women living with podoconiosis: A qualitative study in northern Ethiopia.

BackgroundIntimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a serious, preventable public health problem that affects millions of people worldwide. Research indicates that adults suffering from long term, disabling conditions are more likely to be victims of IPV due to the intersection of disease-associated stigma and discrimination. IPV in turn is known to worsen the overall health and wellbeing of those affected by it. Little research however explores the relationship between neglected tropical diseases such as podoconiosis and IPV. This study explores the relationship between IPV and podoconiosis in northern Ethiopia with the aim of identifying new avenues for limiting disability and promoting the wellbeing of people affected by this neglected tropical disease.MethodsThe study was conducted in East and West Gojjam zones, located in the Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia. Research participants were first screened using the domestic violence screening tool Hurt-Insult-Threaten-Scream (HITS). Data were collected by native speakers of the local language (Amharic) in the form of semi-structured interviews during January and February 2016. Thematic and content data analysis was carried out, using the Open Code 3.4 qualitative data analysis software for coding.ResultsA total of 15 women living with podoconiosis and experiencing IPV were interviewed (aged 31 to 75). Women experienced different forms of IPV, including beatings (with or without an object), insults, name calling, undermining, denial of equal rights over common assets, movement monitoring, cheating, abandonment, forced divorce, obstruction of health care access, inhibition of decision-making and sexual coercion. Podoconiosis increases the frequency and severity of IPV and in occasions shapes a change from physical to psychological and financial violence. In turn, frequent episodes of IPV worsen disease outcomes and contribute to disease persistence in the region, in that these impede women’s ability to manage the disease and help perpetuate the conditions of poverty that influence disease onset.ConclusionsWomen living with podoconiosis are victims of various, overlapping forms of IPV that negatively impact their health and wellbeing. Poverty, scarce IPV prevention services in the area together with a social acceptance of IPV and these women’s decreased ability to work due to the debilitating effects of podoconiosis and childcare responsibilities frequently prompt these women to tolerate IPV and remain in abusive relationships. Tackling disease-associated taboo and stigma, developing accessible IPV interventions, working towards greater gender equality at the household and societal levels and developing sustainable strategies for improving the socio-economic assets of women affected by podoconiosis are all necessary to both prevent IPV and to improve disease outcome.

The social and economic impact of international female migration on left-behind parents in East Java, Indonesia

The objective of this article is to examine the impact of international female labor migration on left-behind parents by taking into consideration the daughters' marital status. Data were taken from in-depth interviews with 37 left-behind parents of migrant women in East Java Province. The study showed that left-behind parents had limited access to the remittances sent by married daughters, except when they carried out childcare responsibilities. Parents of unmarried daughters had some access to remittances, but this varied according to the economic conditions of the family. Left-behind parents were concerned about the safety of their daughters overseas, the marriage prospects of unmarried daughters, the stability of their daughters' marriages and the welfare of left-behind grandchildren. Because the migration of married and unmarried daughters has diverse impacts on left-behind parents, this should be considered in programs that aim to mitigate potential negative impacts of women's migration.

Family Responsibilities and Career Progression of Women Bankers: An Empirical Study in Galle District Private Banks in Sri Lanka

Area of the Study This study seeks to explore the impact of family responsibilities to the career progression of women bankers in Galle district private banks in Sri Lanka. Problem of the Study There is an empirical and knowledge gap in the Sri Lankan context on the impact of family responsibilities to the career progression of women bankers. The main objective of this research is to identify the impact of childcare responsibilities, spousal support, elderly care responsibilities and domestic chores to the career progression of women bankers in private sector banks in Sri Lanka. Method of the study The data were collected from a convenient sample of 100 women employees in private banks in Galle district. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire which consists of 35 items with five point likert scales. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis, correlation analysis and multivariate analysis with the SPSS 16.0 version. Findings of the Study It was found that family responsibilities have a negative relationship with the career progression of women bankers in private sector banks in Sri Lanka. Conclusion of the Study It was found that women bankers in the Galle district private banks have moderate level of awareness about the career, career progression satisfaction and career progression motivation. Also through this study it has found out that childcare responsibilities, eldercare responsibilities and domestic chores responsibilities of women bankers in Galle district private banks have no significant relationship with their career progression while spousal support is positively affected to the career progression of the women bankers in Galle district private banks. Keywords: Career Progression, Childcare Responsibilities, Elderly care Responsibilities, Spousal Support, Domestic Chores

Too much or too little work? Couples’ actual and preferred employment patterns and work hours mismatches in Europe

The most widely cited European data on work hours mismatches at the couple level date back to the 1990s. The general gist of analyses of these data was that ‘overworked’ dual-earner couples frequently preferred work hours reductions, especially those with childcare responsibilities. This study uses more recent data from the European Social Survey (2010-12) to update the available evidence on actual and preferred breadwinner models and on the occurrence and determinants of work hours mismatches among couples in Europe. The focus is on differences between demographic groups and countries in the degree to which cohabiting couples are either underemployed (working fewer hours than desired) or overemployed (working more hours than desired). Our analyses show that about one third of couples are underemployed, while only one in ten report being overemployed. We identify low education and the presence of children below school age as risk factors for underemployment, whereas highly educated women and fathers of teenagers tend to be overemployed. In a comparison of 16 European countries, we find couples in Greece, Ireland, Slovenia, and Spain to be most at risk of experiencing underemployment – in the countries that were most strongly affected by the recession. The effects of children on the experience of hours mismatches are found to vary across Europe – a particularly strong association of children below school age with parental underemployment is observed in Central and Eastern Europe, Finland, and Germany and a particularly weak one in Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, and Sweden. Zusammenfassung Die letzte große Erhebung und Analyse von Umfragedaten zu den Arbeitszeitpräferenzen von Paaren in Europa wurde in den 1990er Jahren durchgeführt. Der Tenor dieser Analysen war, dass sich die oft ‚überarbeiteten‘ Zweiverdiener-Paare in vielen Fällen eine Reduktion ihrer Arbeitszeit wünschen, vor allem bei Vorliegen von Kinderbetreuungspflichten. Die vorliegende Studie nützt jüngere Daten aus dem European Social Survey (2010-12). Der Fokus der Analyse liegt auf Unterschieden zwischen demographischen Gruppen und Ländern im Ausmaß zu dem Paare mehr oder weniger Stunden erwerbstätig sind als dies ihren Präferenzen entspricht (Über- bzw. Unterbeschäftigung). Die Analysen zeigen, dass rund ein Drittel der Paare unterbeschäftigt ist (Präferenz für Arbeitszeitaufstockung), während nur rund eines von zehn Paaren angibt, überbeschäftigt zu sein (Präferenz für Arbeitszeitreduktion). Als Risikofaktoren für Unterbeschäftigung werden niedrige Bildung und Kinder im Vorschulalter sowie auf der Länderebene hohe Arbeitslosigkeit (Griechenland, Irland, Slowenien, Spanien) identifiziert. Höher gebildete Frauen bzw. Paare mit älteren Kindern sind dagegen mit einer höheren Wahrscheinlichkeit überbeschäftigt. Der Effekt von kleinen Kindern auf das Risiko von Unterbeschäftigung variiert ja nach Land. Stärkere Effekte werden in Zentral- und Osteuropa, Finnland und Deutschland beobachtet, vergleichsweises geringe oder keine Effekte in Großbritannien, Griechenland, Irland und Schweden.

Obsessive–compulsive disorder and child safeguarding

SUMMARYObsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric condition and many patients have childcare responsibilities. A small proportion have aggressive and sexual thoughts about their children. There is little risk that they will act on these thoughts, but primary healthcare and social care professionals are often unaware of this and instigate unnecessary and potentially harmful child safeguarding processes. Psychiatrists have an essential role in educating and liaising with other professionals to prevent these inappropriate interventions.DECLARATION OF INTERESTNone.

Türkiye’de Okuma-Yazma Bilmeyen Kadınlar ve Okuma-Yazma Kurslarına Katılmama Nedenleri: “Ne Edeyim Okumayı, Hayatım mı Değişecek?”

Bu çalışmanın amacı okuma-yazma bilmeyen kadınların okuma-yazma kurslarına katılmama nedenlerini ve bu nedenlere temel oluşturan etmenlerin (sosyal ve kültürel arkaplanın) saptanmasıdır. Bu çerçevede araştırmanın alt problemleri şöyledir: (1) Türkiye’de okuma-yazma bilmeyen kadınların demografik özelliklerini nelerdir? (2) Bu kadınların okuma- yazma kurslarına katılmama nedenleri nelerdir ve bu nedenlere temel oluştıran etmenler nelerdir? (3) Okuma-yazma becerisine ihtiyaç yerleşim yerine göre farklılaşmakta mıdır? Çalışmada nicel ve nitel yöntem bir arada kullanılmıştır. İstatistiki veriler okuma-yazma bilmeme durumunun cinsiyet açısından kadın nüfusta; yaş açısından yaşlı nüfusta ve yerleşim yeri açısından kırsal kesimde yoğunlaştığını göstermektedir. Ayrıca kadınlar, ev işleri ve çocuk bakımı, yaşlanma ve yaşlılığa bağlı nedenler, başarısız olma korkusu, iş kaynaklı nedenler, yakın çevrenin hoş karşılamaması gibi etmenleri okuma-yazma kurslarına katılmama nedenleri olarak belirtmişlerdir. Kadınlar tarafından belirtilen bu nedenler tabi ki önemlidir; ancak bu nedenlerin temellendiği arka plana bakıldığında ataerkil toplumsal yapı, gündelik yaşamı çevreleyen sözlü kültürün doğası ve yazıyı talep etmeyen akış öne çıkmaktadır. Yerleşim yeri açısından bakıldığında, ev içi sorumluluklar daha çok köydeki kadınlar; çocuk bakımı ise gecekondu ve kent merkezindeki kadınlar tarafından dile getirilmiştir.

The prognosis of out-patient alcohol treatment among parents with childcare responsibility.

Despite expansive knowledge on the detrimental effects of growing up with parents with alcohol use disorders (AUDs), little is known about the prognosis of alcohol treatment among parents with childcare responsibility. This observational cohort study aimed to examine the prognosis of patients with and without childcare responsibility, in a conventional out-patient alcohol treatment clinic. A consecutive AUD sample (N = 2201), based on ICD-10 Diagnostic Criteria for Research, was assessed with the European Addiction Severity Index during the clinical routine, at treatment entry and conclusion. Data on addiction severity, treatment course and drinking outcomes were derived, and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were calculated with logistic-regression models. Drinking outcomes were compared in an intention-to-treat analysis, including all patients in a logistic regression with inverse probability weighting. Patients with childcare responsibility (aged <18 years) had a less severe addiction profile and lower drop-out rate compared with patients without children or with children living out-of-home. They were also more likely to improve on all drinking-related outcomes, including abstinence (AOR 2.68, 95% CI 1.82-3.95), number of drinking days (AOR 2.45, 95% CI 1.50-4.03) and excessive drinking days (AOR 4.66, 95% CI 2.36-9.17); and those with children living out-of-home had better outcomes on abstinence (AOR 1.59, 95% CI 1.08-2.34) than patients without children. Childcare responsibility among out-patients was associated with better treatment course and outcomes than those without or not living with their children. This knowledge can help guide clinical practice, effectuate interventions and inform social authorities.

Are Federal Child Care Programs Sufficient for Employee Retention? Critical Examination From a Gendered Perspective

The federal government utilizes diversity management and inclusive organizational practices as principal strategies to achieve higher retention of diverse employees. Child care programs are one of the most important diversity management initiatives to enhance employees’ work–life balance and achieve higher retention. However, existing literature suggests that due to gender norms, child care responsibilities and child care programs have different implications for mothers-in-workforce as compared with fathers-in-workforce. Therefore, using 2010 to 2015 federal agency-level longitudinal panel analysis, this study, focuses on a gender-based examination of the effect of satisfaction with child care programs on the retention of male and female federal employees. Also examined is the moderating effect of organizational inclusion on the relationship between satisfaction with child care programs and employee retention. Findings suggest that structural provisions such as satisfactory child care programs are not adequate in enhancing retention of either male or female employees. Satisfaction with child care programs is less likely to increase retention of female employees than male employees. However, as compared with male employees, female employees are more likely to be retained when satisfactory child care programs are combined with inclusive organizational practices. The article discusses implications of these findings for public strategic human resources management, diversity management and inclusion practices, and gender equity.

Intergenerational relationships in Chinese transnational families: A typology study

ABSTRACTUsing latent class analysis, this study examined the overall patterns of multifaceted intergenerational relationships of 604 parent-child dyads in 292 transnational families in Beijing, China. Three family relation types emerged: local obligatory (27%, with reciprocal support and ambivalent feelings), distant discordant (27%, with weak associations and high conflict), and distant intimate (46%, with highest filial ratings and emotional quality). Parents’ health and children’s marital status, socioeconomic status, childcare responsibilities, and sibling numbers were associated with different relation types. The findings are helpful for social workers to identify subgroups of older adults in transnational families who are at risk of having inadequate support.

Balancing paid work and child care in a slum of Nairobi, Kenya: the case for centre-based child care

ABSTRACT As a growing number of women across sub-Saharan Africa engage in paid work, they face the challenge of finding suitable child care arrangements. Drawing on survey data from over 1,200 mothers and in-depth interviews with 31 of these women, we find that mothers living in a slum of Nairobi, Kenya, employ three main strategies to balance their work and child care responsibilities: (1) combine work and child care, (2) rely on kin and neighbours, or (3) use centre-based care. Mothers reported numerous disadvantages to either bringing their children to work or depending on others for child care assistance. In contrast, mothers highlighted several perceived benefits of centre-based child care for themselves and their children, while noting that costs were often prohibitive. These findings suggest that providing affordable centre-based child care could be a key strategy to improving the lives and welfare of women and children living in African slums.

What Influences Urban Mothers' Decisions on What to Feed Their Children Aged Under Five-The Case of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mothers carry the prime responsibility for childcare and feeding in low-income countries. Understanding their experiences in providing food for their children is paramount to informing efforts to improve the nutritional status of children. Such information is lacking in Sub-Saharan Africa. To understand what influences urban mothers’ food acquisition and their motivations for selecting food for their children, 36 in-depth interviews were carried out with mothers having children under five years of age. Interviews were conducted in the local language, audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis which led to the identification of four major themes: mothers give-in to a child-driven diet; quick-fix versus the privilege of planning; keen awareness on food safety, nutrition, and diet diversity; and social, familial, and cultural influences. The findings indicate that child feeding practices are influenced by interlinked social and environmental factors. Hence, nutrition education campaigns should focus on targeting not only families but also their children. Attention should also be given to food safety regulations, as well as to the much-needed support of mothers who are struggling to ensure their children’s survival in low-income countries.

Partner Characteristics and Perceptions of Responsibility for Housework and Child Care

Objective: This study examines how partner characteristics (i.e., relative income, gender, gender expression) causally affect perceptions of responsibility for housework and child care in heterosexual and same‐sex couples.Background: Although past research has frequently investigated how couples divide chores and child‐care tasks, few studies have examined Americans' normative beliefs about the division of household labor. This is an important oversight because partner characteristics are often correlated within individuals (e.g., heterosexual women are disproportionately lower earning), thus blurring how each characteristic causes a partner to be seen as responsible for tasks.Method: The authors conducted a nationally representative survey experiment (N = 1,025). Respondents were randomly assigned to a vignette condition describing either a heterosexual or same‐sex couple. After viewing the vignette, respondents were asked to assign chores and child‐care tasks based on partners' relative income, gender, and gender expression.Results: In same‐sex couples, partners' gender expression had moderate effects on respondents' chore and child‐care assignments. In heterosexual couples, however, the respondents relied overwhelmingly on gender differences to determine who should be doing household tasks. Relative income had little effect across sexual orientation groups, aside from dictating which partner should exit the workforce to become a stay‐at‐home parent.Conclusion: Gender is the primary factor that drives Americans' normative beliefs about housework and child care.