A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF EMOTIONAL REGULATION AND WELL-BEING IN ADULTS RAISED BY WORKING AND NON-WORKING MOTHERS IN KARACHI

Abstract

Maternal influence, particularly the availability of the mothers, significantly shapes an individual’s personality. In Pakistan, where cultural and societal expectations are traditional regarding maternal employment, it is imperative to study how these differences influence children’s emotional regulation and well-being into adulthood. For the purpose, the present research aimed to explore the differences in emotional processing and well-being in adults of working and non-working mothers in Karachi, Pakistan. The investigation was a cross-sectional comparative study which employed non-probability, convenience sampling. A sample of 200 individuals were included i.e., 100 with working mothers and 100 with non-working mothers. Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS) and The Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) were used along with a demographic form to measure emotional regulation and psychological well-being respectively. All the ethical considerations were followed, participants were informed about the confidentiality and voluntary consent was taken. The data was analyzed through SPSS 21 where correlation and independent T-test were applied. The results indicate a positive and significant results of adults raised by working mothers in terms of cognitive appraisal and experienced support whereas no significant difference was observed in regards to well-being. The influence of maternal employment on children’s psychological outcome has been a topic of considerable interest in recent research. Findings from the current study could provide insights into family dynamics and contribute to better support systems for mothers in the workforce.

Keywords: Emotional Regulation, Well-being, Working and Non-working Mothers