Stress Management Among Working Mothers in an Institution of Higher Learning in Nigeria: Implication for Social Work Practice

Abstract

The growing number of working mothers, dual career couples, and working single parents raises concerns about the impact of work stress on family lifestyles and their ability to balance work and family obligations. The aim of this study is to examine the role of social workers in promoting work-life balance among working mothers at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The cross-sectional survey design involving the mixed-methods approach was adopted for the study. A total of 604 questionnaires were distributed to the participants; of those, 99.3% ( n = 596) were correctly completed and returned, 0.7% were not, and eight were selected at random for IDI. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while frequency and percentages were used to present the data. According to the study, 83.6% of working mothers experience work-related stress. The results also showed that working mothers’ stress levels depend on their level of education, the size of their family, and their income, as well as on their desire to publish in order to advance in their careers. The study concludes that, in order to reduce the stress experiences of working mothers, attention should be paid to their understanding of the stressors confronting them, while also recommending the establishment of an occupational social work office anchored by professional social workers, whose duties will be to offer professional advice on appropriate coping mechanisms to adopt while ensuring the welfare of university students and staff, particularly mothers.