The experience of sole mothers balancing paid work with care for a child with a disability

Abstract

There are increasing numbers of families in Australia headed by sole parents, but little is known about the experiences of those who also care for a child with a disability. Additional caring responsibilities have previously been shown to impact on the work participation of parents. This study involved qualitative analyses of interview data conducted with sole mothers with school-aged children with disability (N = 11). Thematic analysis revealed four themes that enabled and supported participation in the workforce: social support; managing appointments; characteristics of the workplace; and the role of the school. Results suggest the importance of practical help from family and friends in facilitating participation in paid employment. Additionally, the importance of flexible appointment scheduling on the part of service providers was highlighted, as well as the importance of workplace flexibility and supportive workplace cultures. Such factors were important in supporting sole mothers to balance work with care, with important implications for personal and family wellbeing.

Challenges of single parents raising children with intellectual and developmental disabilities

“…Previous research has also reported a close association between single‐parent status and reduced income and poverty resulting from the absence of a second income from a partner and discriminatory wage levels (Parish et al, 2012). Indeed, managing the conflicting demands of care and employment can be difficult and complex (Cole et al, 2016). However, we should note that employment can benefit single parents by making them better off financially, offering them an opportunity to socialise, and boosting their confidence and self‐esteem (Campbell et al, 2016; Levine, 2009).…”

“…Clearly, single parents face greater pressures in meeting the demands of care, so they have to rely on the welfare system even if they are willing to work (Scott, 2010). One reason for this situation is that single parents have fewer resources for caring for their children with disabilities, compared to two‐parent families (Cole et al, 2016). Therefore, government support has become increasingly important to help such parents meet their basic needs and the care needs of their children.…”

“…A semi‐structure interview protocol was developed based on literature (i.e. Campbell et al, 2016; Cole et al, 2016; Levine, 2009) and in consultation with agencies that provided support services to parents of younger and adult children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This interview schedule addressed the challenges of parenting a child with an intellectual and developmental disability alone, and the impact of these challenges on single parents' lives in areas such as parent roles, health, work and social activities.…”

Exploration and prioritization of enablers to organization work–family balance planning for working sole Indian mothers integrating fuzzy Delphi and AHP

“…Mkhize and Msomi (2016) analyzed the WFB experience among South African sole mothers. Cole et al (2016) examined the work-life balance experience of Australian single mothers along with the care of disabled children. Robinson et al (2018) explored the challenges and difficulties faced by the single mother workforce.…”