Mothers balancing work and family: the associations with emotional well-being, sleep–wake problems and the role of basic needs

Abstract Background The transition to motherhood involves significant changes, extending from pregnancy to the early years of a child's life. This period, characterized by multiple stressors and adjustments, can profoundly impact maternal well-being. For this reason, the aim of this study was t...

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Main Authors: Rosalia Olivieri, Alessandro Lo Presti, Sebastiano Costa, Lucia Ariemma, Marco Fabbri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02241-3
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author Rosalia Olivieri
Alessandro Lo Presti
Sebastiano Costa
Lucia Ariemma
Marco Fabbri
author_facet Rosalia Olivieri
Alessandro Lo Presti
Sebastiano Costa
Lucia Ariemma
Marco Fabbri
author_sort Rosalia Olivieri
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The transition to motherhood involves significant changes, extending from pregnancy to the early years of a child's life. This period, characterized by multiple stressors and adjustments, can profoundly impact maternal well-being. For this reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the associations between work-family balance, need satisfaction, depression, anger, vitality and sleep–wake problems, using Self-determination Theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework. Methods Participated in this study 218 working mothers in Italy with children aged between 1 and 36 months. Using a correlational design, SEM with latent variables was used to test an integrative model. Results Results revealed significant positive associations between work-family balance and need satisfaction, and vitality, and negative direct associations of need satisfaction with sleep–wake problems, depression, and anger. Indirect associations were also visible between work-family balance and psychological outcomes through need satisfaction. Conclusions. Overall, findings underscore the importance of conditions that support the satisfaction autonomy, competence, and relatedness of working mothers during this critical life stage. These insights have implications for organizational policies and interventions aimed at supporting the mental health of working mothers.
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spelling doaj-art-20eb7e1bedde4b25b0f6a79ef2e6068e2025-08-20T02:40:18ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832024-12-0112111210.1186/s40359-024-02241-3Mothers balancing work and family: the associations with emotional well-being, sleep–wake problems and the role of basic needsRosalia Olivieri0Alessandro Lo Presti1Sebastiano Costa2Lucia Ariemma3Marco Fabbri4Department of Psychology, Università Degli Studi Della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”Department of Psychology, Università Degli Studi Della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”Department of Psychology, Università Degli Studi Della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”Department of Psychology, Università Degli Studi Della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”Department of Psychology, Università Degli Studi Della Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”Abstract Background The transition to motherhood involves significant changes, extending from pregnancy to the early years of a child's life. This period, characterized by multiple stressors and adjustments, can profoundly impact maternal well-being. For this reason, the aim of this study was to investigate the associations between work-family balance, need satisfaction, depression, anger, vitality and sleep–wake problems, using Self-determination Theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework. Methods Participated in this study 218 working mothers in Italy with children aged between 1 and 36 months. Using a correlational design, SEM with latent variables was used to test an integrative model. Results Results revealed significant positive associations between work-family balance and need satisfaction, and vitality, and negative direct associations of need satisfaction with sleep–wake problems, depression, and anger. Indirect associations were also visible between work-family balance and psychological outcomes through need satisfaction. Conclusions. Overall, findings underscore the importance of conditions that support the satisfaction autonomy, competence, and relatedness of working mothers during this critical life stage. These insights have implications for organizational policies and interventions aimed at supporting the mental health of working mothers.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02241-3Basic NeedsWorking MothersSleep–wake problemsWork-Family Balance
spellingShingle Rosalia Olivieri
Alessandro Lo Presti
Sebastiano Costa
Lucia Ariemma
Marco Fabbri
Mothers balancing work and family: the associations with emotional well-being, sleep–wake problems and the role of basic needs
BMC Psychology
Basic Needs
Working Mothers
Sleep–wake problems
Work-Family Balance
title Mothers balancing work and family: the associations with emotional well-being, sleep–wake problems and the role of basic needs
title_full Mothers balancing work and family: the associations with emotional well-being, sleep–wake problems and the role of basic needs
title_fullStr Mothers balancing work and family: the associations with emotional well-being, sleep–wake problems and the role of basic needs
title_full_unstemmed Mothers balancing work and family: the associations with emotional well-being, sleep–wake problems and the role of basic needs
title_short Mothers balancing work and family: the associations with emotional well-being, sleep–wake problems and the role of basic needs
title_sort mothers balancing work and family the associations with emotional well being sleep wake problems and the role of basic needs
topic Basic Needs
Working Mothers
Sleep–wake problems
Work-Family Balance
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02241-3
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