Balancing acts: Possible selves and the transition from welfare to work.

This dissertation is divided into three parts: (1) literature review, (2) content analysis of the possible selves of low-income women, and (3) analysis of the effects of experimental content priming (focusing on either the benefits or difficulties of working) on possible selves and work-family conflict. In chapter 1, I review factors that hinder or promote work-family relationships among middle-class women, including: work place environment; availability of child care resources; support from spouse and social networks; and multiple roles as a psychological resource. I examine how living in a high poverty context is likely to modify these relationships, and discuss the implications for low-income mothers' ability to motivate and sustain commitment to work. I conclude with suggestions for social work practice. In the chapter 2, I examine low-income mothers' possible selves, the future-oriented component of self-concept. Respondents were 386 low-income mothers in various stages of transitioning from welfare to work. They were asked about their possible selves, perceived work-family conflict, and self-efficacy in managing work and family responsibilities. Content analysis indicated that material, parenting, and work possible selves were highly salient. Respondents reported high levels of work-family conflict, and also reported high levels of competence in managing work and family roles. Mothers under pressure to find immediate work had a higher proportion of work related possible selves, suggesting that the content of possible selves reflect salient life tasks. In chapter 3, I examine the effects of priming the benefits or difficulties of work on low-income mothers' perceptions of work-family conflict and centrality of work and parenting possible selves. Priming the benefits of work decreased perceptions of work-family conflict. When thinking about the benefits of working, mothers applying for welfare had increased proportion of child/family possible selves, and mothers in job training programs had an increased proportion of job possible selves. Priming effects were moderated by cognitive fluency (Schwarz, 1998). Thinking about many benefits of work was difficult and thus had the paradoxical effect of increasing child/family possible selves for women in the welfare office and decreased job possible selves for women in the job training program.PhDIndividual and family studiesPsychologySocial SciencesSocial psychologyWomen's studiesUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/125136/2/3186681.pd