Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Parenting satisfaction of mothers during midlife

  • Published:
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present investigation explores the relations among midlife identity concerns, marital satisfaction, mental health, and parenting satisfaction among mothers of preadolescents and early adolescents. Data were obtained from 129 intact families with a firstborn child between the ages of 10 and 15. The results suggest that intense midlife concerns are associated with diminished satisfaction with parenting, although this relation is moderated by the mother's reported marital satisfaction and her overall psychological wellbeing. Specifically, mothers with intense midlife crisis symptoms report higher parenting satisfaction when their marital satisfaction is high, but lower parental satisfaction when their midlife concerns are accompanied by psychological distress. The relations among midlife concerns, marital satisfaction, psychological symptoms, and mothers' satisfaction with parenting are not moderated by the sex of the adolescent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ballenski, C., and Cook, A. (1982). Mothers' perceptions of their competence in managing selected parenting tasks.Family Relat. 31: 489–494.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, A., Converse, P., and Rodgers, W. L. (1976).The Quality of American Life: Perceptions, Evaluations, and Satisfactions. Russell Sage Foundation, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, M. P., and Rosenberg, S. D. (1981).Men at Midlife. Auburn House, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, R. L. (1972). The phases of adult life: A study in developmental psychology.Am. J. Psychiat. 6: 16–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, J. P. (1986). Family relations in adolescence: Myths, realities, and new direction.Genet. Psychol. Monogr.

  • Hill, J. P., Holmbeck, G., Marlow, L., Green, T., and Lynch, M. (1985a). Pubertal status and parent-child relations in families of seventh-grade boys.J. Early Adoles. 5: 31–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, J. P., Holmbeck, G., Marlow, L., Green, T., and Lynch, M. (1985b). Menarcheal status of seventh-grade girls.J. Youth Adoles. 14: 301–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keniston, K. (1963). Scales for the measurement of identity. Unpublished manuscript. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinson, D. (1978).The Seasons of a Man's Life. Knopf, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neugarten, B. L. (Ed.). (1968).Middle Age and Aging. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, B. (1977). The empty nest, employment, and psychiatric symptoms in college educated women.Psychol. Women Quart. 2: 35–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radloff, L. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population.Appl. Psychol. Measure. 1: 385–401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, L. B. (1979).Women of a Certain Age: The Midlife Search for Self. Harper & Row, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scarf, M. (1986).Unfinished Business. Doubleday, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverberg, S. B., and Steinberg, L. (1990). Psychological well-being of parents at midlife: The impact of early adolescent children.Develop. Psychol. 26: 658–666.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L. (1987a). Impact of puberty on family relations: Effects of pubertal status and pubertal timing.Develop. Psychol. 23: 451–460.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L. (1987b). Recent research on the family at adolescence: The extent and nature of sex differences.J. Youth Adoles. 16: 191–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L., and Silverberg, S. B. (1987). Influences on marital satisfaction during the middle stages of the family life cycle.J. Marriage Family 49: 751–760.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA

    Kelly J. Koski (Formerly, Senior in Child and Family Studies)

  2. Temple University, 19122, Philadelphia, PA

    Laurence Steinberg (Professor of Psychology)

Authors
  1. Kelly J. Koski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laurence Steinberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The research reported here is part of a larger investigation supported by grants to the second author by the William T. Grant Foundation and the Graduate School Research Committee of the University of Wisconsin —Madison. This paper is based on a senior thesis completed by the first author in the Department of Child and Family Studies at the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

Interests are in adolescent development and sex differences.

Interests are in adolescent development and family relations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Koski, K.J., Steinberg, L. Parenting satisfaction of mothers during midlife. J Youth Adolescence 19, 465–474 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537475

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537475

Keywords

Search

Navigation