Work Roles and Coping Strategies of Employed Single Afro-American Mothers / Harriette McAdoo.

Women who must raise their children alone and who are in the labor market have been found to have high levels of stress. Existing data from 318 black, single, employed women with full custody of their children were examined with regard to their work patterns, possible conflicts with their families and their work, and the strategies that they used in coping with these conflicts. The women were found to have very high levels of actual and perceived stress and were found to be under very high stress in financial and work-related areas. The women experienced stress and conflict in the roles that they were attempting to maintain. Of the three types of coping studied, (i.e., Type I, structural role definition; Type II, personal role redefinition; and Type III, reacting role behavior), the women most often chose Type III, the least healthy coping strategy. The supportive networks and linkages between the women and their families appeared to provide much needed support. Mothers who maintained frequent and warm relationships with their families of orientation were found to be under lower levels of stress. (NRB)

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