Dual Roles, Dual Burdens: Working Mothers' Psychological Experiences in Early Adulthood
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64268/jllm.v2i01.15Keywords:
Working Mothers, Dual Roles, Developmental Psychology, Early Adulthood, Qualitative StudyAbstract
Background:The dual roles played by working mothers often give rise to conflicts between family and work demands, which can impact their psychological condition and subjective well-being.
Aim:This study aims to explore the psychological experiences of working mothers in carrying out their dual roles as mothers and workers in the early adult development stage.
Method:. This study used a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design to explore in depth how subjects interpret and experience this dual role. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with seven working mothers aged 20–40, then analyzed using thematic analysis.
Result:The research results found four main themes, namely: (1) the conflicting demands of work and family roles, (2) psychological burdens and emotional conflicts in the form of guilt, stress, and mental fatigue, (3) adaptation strategies developed by participants to manage dual roles, and (4) personal growth that emerged from these experiences. These findings indicate that the experience of being a working mother in early adulthood is complex and multidimensional — on the one hand, it presents psychological pressure, but on the other hand, it also provides a space for the formation of psychological resilience and self-maturity. Social support from partners, family, and the work environment has been shown to be an important protective factor in helping working mothers manage dual roles in a more psychologically healthy manner.
Conclusion:This study contributes to the understanding of the interaction between dual role conflict and psychosocial developmental tasks in early adulthood, particularly in the context of Indonesian culture.
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