Delayed Childbearing, Relational Influences, and Workplace Outcomes

Abstract

Guided by the Circumplex Model of Family Functioning (Olson, Sprenkle, & Russell, 1979), this study examined women’s perceptions of their decision to delay childbearing as well as perceptions of personal fulfillment through motherhood, family functioning, and work and relational outcomes. These perceptions were tested using survey data from 250 women whose oldest child was no older than 5 years, was currently married to the child’s biological father, was working when the child was born and was currently working, was part of a dual-earning household, and was between the ages of 30-45. Findings indicate that participants considered a number of personal and professional reasons to delay childbearing, which highlights the individual and personal nature of choosing to have a child. Although it was hypothesized to have a relationship with all workplace and relational outcomes, only personal fulfillment through motherhood and relational commitment yielded a significant relationship. In examining family functioning as a mediating variable between personal fulfillment through motherhood, as well as relational and workplace outcomes, no significant indirect effects emerged, although there were several significant direct effects. Cohesion was significantly related to job satisfaction, workplace productivity, commitment, and divorce proneness, while adaptability was significantly related to job satisfaction, affective commitment, commitment, and divorce proneness. This study highlights the importance of healthy family functioning for new parents in both personal and professional domains, as well as the need to support new mothers at work and in the home.