Maternal working hours, family support, and child emotional well-being: An ecological and work-family conflict perspective from urban India

Abstract

Background: The rapid rise in maternal employment across India has prompted new questions about its effects on children’s emotional development. While global studies link extended work hours and work-family conflict to behavioral issues in children, limited evidence exists from collectivist cultural contexts where family networks play a buffering role. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and Greenhaus and Beutell’s Work-Family Conflict Model, this study examined how maternal working hours, family support, and work-family conflict jointly influence preschool children’s emotional well-being. Objectives:This research aimed to: Assess the relationship between maternal working hours and children’s emotional problem scores. Examine the mediating role of work-family conflict. Investigate the moderating effects of family support and family structure on these relationships. Methods: A correlational-comparative study was conducted among 100 mother-child dyads (50 working and 50 non-working mothers) in urban Cuttack, Odisha. Standardized instruments included the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Family Support Scale, and Work-Family Conflict Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS v27 and PROCESS Macro, employing correlation, hierarchical regression, and mediation-moderation analyses. Results: Maternal working hours positively correlated with children’s emotional problems (r = .29, p< .05). Work-family conflict partially mediated this relationship (indirect effect β = 0.13, p = .012). Family support significantly moderated both the direct and indirect paths (β = −.22, p = .038), while joint family structures further buffered emotional risks. Conclusions: Maternal employment per se was not detrimental to children’s emotional well-being; rather, the interaction of work intensity and family support determined outcomes. The findings highlight the need for family-friendly policies, workplace flexibility, and community-based emotional health programs to foster resilience among dual-earner families in urban India.