- Loto
- Home Economics Department Adeyemi Federal University of Education Ond
This study examined the strategies for coping with childcare and selfcare related stress among working mothers in Ondo State. It was a survey. The population consisted of all working mothers in Ondo State, Nigeria. 399 working mothers were drawn from across the state using purposive sampling technique. Instrument used to collect data was questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using mean. Findings reveal six (6) stressful situations working mothers are experiencing with childcare and selfcare, which include among other things: inability to bond with child appropriately; stress spillage to production at work; physical and emotional health issues. five (5) strategies adopted by working mothers for coping with childcare related stress, which includes among other things: patronizing nanny that will not be staying with the family, staggering time at workplace that allows mother to personally attend to all her child’s essentials and patronizing child substitute care giver during working hours. Sixteen (16) strategies adopted by working mothers for coping with selfcare related stress, which includes among other things: avoiding over commitment for the day, taking break from workplace at the appropriate time and setting achievable targets alone in order to do away with irrelevant stress. Recommendations were made for mothers to feel free to ask for break (for instance leave) from workplace, not minding the cut in pay, when the need arises; mothers should not commit themselves with too many tasks at a time to avoid health breakdown.