Achievement Motivation of Children of Employed Mothers and Homemakers

Abstract

Ever since women began entering the work force the debate has been looming over mothers who enter the work force and those who choose to remain at home with their children. Such concerns are whether or not having a working mother negatively affects their children emotionally and/or academically. Another concern is the stress level a working mother faces daily. The present study assessed the impact of maternal employment on achievement motivation of adolescents. The sample consisted of 80 children of employed mothers and 80 children of homemakers. Further the sample was bifurcated on the basis of gender (40 boys and 40 girls). Costello Achievement Motivation Scale (CAMS) adapted by Misra, O.P & Srivastava, S.K, 1990was administered to the selected sample to assess their achievement motivation. The obtained data was treated with the help of Mean, SD, t-test and ANOVA. Analysis of the results revealed that children of employed mothers had higher achievement motivation as compared to the children of homemakers. Further, findings indicated that adolescent girls of employed mothers scored higher on achievement motivation as compared to adolescent boys of homemakers.