Who Are the Biggest Losers in the COVID-19 Pandemic? The Impacts of COVID-19 and Coping Strategies among Working Mothers

Abstract

The coronavirus disease pandemic has a global effect on people's daily lives, specifically on the ability to leave home, go to work, school, or access public services. Similar to the past epidemics (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), swine flu, and Ebola), the most vulnerable groups, such as working mothers, are usually the ones that suffer the biggest brunt. The primary objective of this cross-sectional study is to investigate perceived stress, perceived social support, satisfaction with distance learning, and coping strategies among working mothers in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, a total of 204 women participated in an online survey using the Perceived Stressors Scale (PSS), Multidimensional Scale of Social Support (MSPSS), the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (B-COPE) Inventory, and Distance Learning Satisfaction Scale (DLSAT). These instruments were employed to analyze the study variables. The results revealed that working mothers reported a high level of perceived stress (M = 44.15, SD = 7.25), a low level of perceived social support (M = 29.78, SD = 9.41), a low level of satisfaction with distance learning (M = 17.50, SD = 6.60), and a moderate level of effectively coping with their life circumstances (M = 60.56, SD = 11.07). Furthermore, the mothers' perceived stressors, perceived social support, and satisfaction with children's distance learning were all significantly associated with the score of coping strategies. The results in this study are significant in providing essential support and resources for working mothers to cope with stress in the future and identify effective coping strategies for working mothers' well-being. Accordingly, implications and recommendations for future research were provided.