Stress, Coping, and Problems Faced by Working Mothers Involved in Child-Rearing: A Comparison of Nuclear vs. Joint Families

Abstract

Introduction: Working mothers in India face many problems as they balance their professional and family responsibilities, residing in both nuclear and joint families. Stress impacts their health, relationships, and well-being; effective coping strategies are crucial. However, the effectiveness of these strategies may vary depending on family structure. The present study aimed to assess the stress level, coping strategies, and problems of working mothers and to seek a correlation between the stress levels and coping strategies of working mothers involved in child rearing in nuclear versus joint families in a selected residential area of New Delhi.

Methods: A comparative survey design was adopted for the study, involving 100 working mothers from an urban residential area, New Delhi, comprising 50 mothers from nuclear families and 50 from joint families. Stress levels and coping strategies were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Brief COPE Inventory, respectively. The problems faced by working mothers were identified through a self-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods to compare stress, coping strategies, and problems experienced by working mothers in nuclear and joint family settings.

Results: Among working mothers in nuclear families, 76% experienced a moderate level of stress, while 16% reported severe stress. In contrast, 90% of working mothers in joint families experienced moderate stress, and none reported severe stress. Working mothers in both family types demonstrated moderately effective coping strategies. However, mothers living in nuclear families reported a higher level of problems compared to those in joint families, who experienced a moderate level of problems. Furthermore, a weak negative correlation was found between stress levels and coping strategies among working mothers in nuclear families, indicating that higher coping ability was associated with slightly lower stress levels. In joint families, no statistically significant correlation was observed between stress levels and coping strategies.

Conclusion: The study concluded that working mothers in nuclear families experience higher stress levels and more severe problems compared to those in joint families. Despite using moderate coping strategies, a lack of support systems in nuclear families leads to increased stress and problems.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.9318.202602

How to cite this article:
Kumari K, Hashmi J F, Sarkar S. Stress, Coping, and Problems Faced by Working Mothers Involved in Child-Rearing: A Comparison of Nuclear vs. Joint Families. Int J Nurs Midwif Res.2026;13(1):30-36.