Parental guilt among working mothers of primary school children in aftercare

Abstract

After-school care plays a vital role in the lives of working parents, because it provides both practical assistance and peace of mind regarding the care of their children while they work. In today’s fast-paced society, many mothers manage multiple responsibilities, often juggling the demands of work and family life. This balance can limit time for meaningful family connection and may contribute to feelings of pressure or guilt when expectations become difficult to meet.

The aim of the study was to explore how working mothers with primary school children in aftercare experience and cope with parental guilt. The study was guided by the research question: How do working mothers with primary school children in aftercare experience and cope with parental guilt?The research was conducted in Tshwane South, Gauteng, South Africa, using a qualitative research approach and semistructured interviews to better understand mothers’ lived realities and coping strategies. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory complemented by Work-Family Conflict Theory, provided the theoretical framework to explore how individual, relational, and broader societal factors interact to shape experiences of guilt.

Trustworthiness was ensured through the application of Lincoln and Guba’s (1985) criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Ethical principles, including respect, integrity, fairness, and transparency, were upheld through procedures such as informed consent, voluntary participation, confidentiality, and reflexivity.

The findings indicate that parental guilt is a complex emotional experience influenced by individual beliefs, societal expectations, and structural conditions. Mothers’ experiences of aftercare were closely linked to guilt, varying in form and intensity depending on children’s wellbeing, workplace flexibility, and the presence of supportive networks. Access to reliable aftercare, supportive relationships, and adaptive coping strategies, such as cognitive reframing, appeared to alleviate feelings of guilt and promote a sense of maternal efficacy. The study contributes to social work knowledge by providing contextually grounded insight into the experiences of working mothers within the South African context. It highlights the importance of understanding parental guilt as shaped by both individual and systemic factors and underscores the role of supportive environments in promoting maternal wellbeing.