Abstract

The present study explored how employment affects employed women's, especially employed mothers', psychological well-being or happiness. On the basis of the main expectation that psychological well-being experienced by the employed mothers is not determined by the employment per se, but by the women's social structural variables and social support, the present study examined the relationship between employed and nonemployed mothers' social structural variables, social support, and psychological well-being. Between Nov. 1, 1995 and Dec. 4, 1995, a sample of 558 married Korean mothers (263 employed and 295 nonemployed women) completed a questionnaire survey. In results, employed mothers in service jobs reported lower levels of well-being than employed mothers in other types of jobs, and nonemployed mothers with only daughter(s) reported lower levels of well-being than nonemployed mothers with at least one son. In addition, social support provided by various sources was related to high levels of well-being among both groups of women. Moreover, while the quantity of social support (especially, from husband) was more important for employed women than for nonemployed women, the quality of social support (especially, from husband) was more important for nonemployed women than for employed women. These results were discussed in the context of the unique culture of employed and nonemployed mothers.