Objective: This study intended to examine whether working mothers’ job satisfaction
has a moderating effect on the relationship between their parenting
stress and second childbearing intention.
Methods: The subjects were 202 working mothers in Seoul and Gyeonggi province,
all of who had a single child under 36 months old. Working mothers’ parenting
stress, job satisfaction and second childbearing intention were assessed
with questionnaires completed by the mothers. The data were analyzed using descriptive
statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Duncan test, Pearson's correlation,
and moderator regression analysis.
Results: First, a significant difference was revealed in the mothers’second childbearing
intention depending on the type of their child’s main caregiver. The second
childbearing intention of the mothers who relied on babysitters to care for
their children was lower than that of the mothers whose mothers, mother-in-laws
or child care teachers cared for their children. Secondly, working mothers' parenting
stress and job satisfaction significantly affected their second childbearing
intention. Thirdly, the mothers’ job satisfaction moderated the relationship between
their parenting stress and second childbearing intention.
Conclusion/Implications: It is necessary to provide working mothers with social
support for enhancing their job satisfaction and alleviating their job stress, in order
to increase their second childbearing intention.