Mujeres en situación de nido vacío, nido demasiado lleno, madres con hijos menores y no madres: un estudio acerca de las teorías implícitas sobre la maternidad, el bienestar psicológico, la iniciativa de crecimiento personal y la satisfacción con la vida.
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2015
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29-01-2016
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Cantero López, Mª José
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Abstract
Motherhood is one of the most important events in a woman`s life (Taubman-Ben-Ari, Shlomo Ben and Findler, 2012) that affects her interaction with the social system and, obviously, in her psychological development (Knoester and Eggebeen, 2006). With the intention to deepen in this event, this study analyzes the relationship between different situations regarding motherhood and implicit theories (Rodrigo et al. 1993) about motherhood, psychological well-being, personal growth initiative and satisfaction with life.
It starts from the need to clarify several aspects: first, if the different situations in which a woman can be found about motherhood are related to the psychological variables studied in this research; secondly, whether implicit theories about motherhood are related to psychological well-being, personal growth initiative and satisfaction with life according to different groups of women; and finally, what variables, the ones studied here, predict overall satisfaction with life.
Participants were 213 women, between 40 and 77 years, belonging to different groups according to their situation with regard to motherhood. On the one hand, from an objective view, four groups traditionally considered in the literature were established: empty nest, full nest, mothers with young children and non-mothers (Hansen, Slagsvold and Moum, 2009; Paterna, Yago and Martinez, 2004). On the other hand, from a subjective view, it was considered the burden experience of women with respect to adult children differentiating two groups: nests with loads (empty nest with responsibilities and experience of loading, and full nest) and nests without loads (pure empty nest and empty nest with responsibilities but without experience of load).
The instruments used were: Implicit Theories of Motherhood Questionnaire, TIM (Pascual, 1999), which was revised and adapted leading, after confirmatory factor analysis, to a revised version (TIM-R), Personal Growth Initiative Scale, PGIS (Robitschek, 1998) which was adapted to Spanish population in this research, Psychological Well-being Scale, EBP (Ryff, 1989, adapted by Diaz et al. 2006), Satisfaction with Life Scale, SLS (Diener et al 1985, adapted by Cabañero et al. 2004) and Satisfaction in Middle Adulthood Questionnaire, SAM, developed in this study.
Results showed statistically significant differences in implicit theories about motherhood, psychological well-being and satisfaction among women's groups considered.
Significant differences were also obtained in the psychological variables studied depending on the implicit theory about motherhood which predominates by women and by group regarding the situation of motherhood. Empty nest women in traditional theory obtained higher level of well-being and satisfaction that the same group of women with radical feminist theory. Full nest women in psychological theory, were associated with psychological well-being and life satisfaction. In mothers with young children, the psychological theory positively correlated with variables of well-being and satisfaction; however, radical feminist theory correlated negatively and it was associated with higher levels of unrest and dissatisfaction. In not mothers women, implicit theories about motherhood were not related to the well-being and satisfaction. Moreover, maintain traditional or psychological beliefs about motherhood, in the group of nests with loads was related to well-being and satisfaction. In nests without charges, implicit theories about motherhood were not related either wellbeing or satisfaction.
It could be said, that when a woman has no children or do not have the experience of burden or obligation with respect to them, the implicit theories about motherhood are not associated with the variables of well-being or satisfaction.
And finally, the significant predictors of overall satisfaction with life were: relational partner status, self-acceptance, environmental mastery, purpose in life and non-economic concerns. The group of belonging with respect to motherhood was not a significant predictor of satisfaction.
In conclusion, to belong to a particular group regarding the situation of maternity, e.g. being a mother or not, to be in empty nest or full nest, etc., is not an indicator, by itself, of greater or lesser psychological well-being, or personal growth initiative, or life satisfaction. It is the belief or implicit theory about motherhood which is related to the well-being and life satisfaction depending on the group of belonging with respect to motherhood.