Self-efficacy and achievement motivation of employed and unemployed mothers

Abstract

The research aimed to understand the relationship of work status on the self – efficacy and achievement motivation in mothers. A questionnaire survey was used to measure independent variables self – efficacy and achievement motivation. General Self-Efficacy Questionnaire by Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995 (α = .90) and the Achievement Motivation Scale by Lang & Fries, 2005 (α = .94) were used. A total sample of 100 mothers (50 employed and 50 unemployed) between the ages of 35 and 55 participated in the study by answering an online questionnaire. An independent sample t-test found that work status did not influence self-efficacy or achievement motivation of the participants. Further, a correlational analysis revealed that self-efficacy and achievement motivation were highly correlated in working and non-working mothers. The study indicates that work status does not seem to be indicative of women’s feelings of self-efficacy and achievement motivation, and thus, implies that a job is not a requirement to feel fulfilled and happy for all mothers.