Family Support and Child Age as Moderators of the Relation Between Work Stress and Parenting Stress among Mothers Working From Home

This study examined the role of family support and child age as moderators of the relation between work-related stress and parenting stress among mothers working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mothers (N = 189; Mage = 41.19, SD = 6.60) completed questionnaires measuring work-related stress, parenting stress, family support, and child age. Results showed that family resources significantly moderated the relation between work-related stress and parenting stress. Higher stress due to work conflicts was associated with higher levels of parenting stress at low levels, but not at moderate and high levels of use of family resources. Child age was also a significant moderator such that the association between work interference with leisure time and parenting stress was strongest among mothers of children ages 0-5. The findings suggest that mothers caring for young children are most vulnerable to the negative effects of work-related stress on parenting stress, and highlight the importance of family resources as a protective factor. The results highlight the potential benefits of organizational policies and parenting interventions that prioritize stress reduction and that maximize the impact of family resources among working mothers