Single mothers, social capital, and work-family conflict

Arbeitspapier

The purpose of this paper is to examine work-family conflict among low-income, unmarried mothers. I examine how social capital affects work-family conflict and how both social capital and work-family conflict affect employment. I analyze the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a national sample of non-marital births collected in 1998-2000 and 1999-2002. Results show that social capital reduces unmarried mothers' reports of work-family conflict, especially for low-income women. In addition, mothers who report high levels of work-family conflict are less likely to be employed; this pattern holds for women who are not looking for work as well as those who are. However, even at high levels of conflict, low-income women are more likely to be employed. The results suggest that work-family conflict has two consequences for unmarried women: it keeps them out of the labor force and makes it more difficult for women who want to work to maintain employment stability.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Upjohn Institute Working Paper ; No. 05-118

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft
• Subject: Alleinerziehende ; Social Capital ; Niedrigeinkommen ; Erwerbstätigkeit ; USA

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Ciabattari, Teresa
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
• (where): Kalamazoo, MI
• (when): 2005

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.17848/wp05-118
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/64339
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET