Child-Rearing Attitudes of Working Mothers

Abstract

The attitudes of working women at different educational levels to child rearing and the influences of the mothers’ age and educational level and of the children’s age and sex on these attitudes were examined. 288 mothers with children between 3 and 17 years old and working at all faculties of Ankara University as academics and officials were studied. Information was obtained by using the “Personel Information Form” and the “Parental Attitudes Research Instrument (PARI)”. The results showed that there are significant differences about “over motherhood”, “democratic attitudes and equity” and “rejection of being a house wife” between the faculties. While the sex and age o f children did not significantly effect family life and maternal attitudes alone, the age and sex interaction had a significant effect on the “rejection of being a housewife" and “over discipline” dimensions. Having a higher level of education caused a tendency towards less protective, less disciplined and authoritarian maternal behavior and more compatibility between mates.