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Single Mothers, Social Capital, and Work-Family Conflict

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  • Teresa Ciabattari

    (Sonoma State University)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine work-family conflict among low-income, unmarried mothers. I examine how social capital affects work-family conflict and how both social capital and work-family conflict affect employment. I analyze the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a national sample of non-marital births collected in 1998-2000 and 1999-2002. Results show that social capital reduces unmarried mothers' reports of work-family conflict, especially for low-income women. In addition, mothers who report high levels of work-family conflict are less likely to be employed; this pattern holds for women who are not looking for work as well as those who are. However, even at high levels of conflict, low-income women are more likely to be employed. The results suggest that work-family conflict has two consequences for unmarried women: it keeps them out of the labor force and makes it more difficult for women who want to work to maintain employment stability.

Suggested Citation

  • Teresa Ciabattari, 2005. "Single Mothers, Social Capital, and Work-Family Conflict," Upjohn Working Papers 05-118, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:upj:weupjo:05-118
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marta Tienda & Jennifer Glass, 1985. "Household structure and labor force participation of black, hispanic, and white mothers," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 22(3), pages 381-394, August.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    work-family; work; family; conflict; low-income; unmarried; mothers; social; capital;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty

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