Engagement, parenting practices and work hours of mothers of preschool children

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relations among parental engagement, parenting practices and work hours of mothers of preschool children, through an exploratory, quantitative and cross-sectional study. Mothers living in the South of Brazil (171) answered to four surveys. The data analysis demonstrated that mothers whose work hours are full and extensive have major engagement with their children’ activities towards those who perform partial paid activities or towards those who perform unpaid activities. Nevertheless, they use significantly more punishment, less democratic parenting practices and offer less emotional support. There is discussed the implications of how occurs the conciliation/ conflicts of roles developed by the mothers when engaged in the care of their children and in paid activities.