Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

James Brown

Abstract

Most stay-at-home mothers wish to return to the workplace; yet, the majority are not successful. There is a looming labor shortage and increasing organizational initiatives to increase female participation at most levels, providing opportunity for this talent pool. The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the reentry strategies of networking, volunteerism, additional education, and additional training upon the reentry success for highly educated, stay-at-home mothers. In conjunction with the theoretical framework of the social cognitive career theory, self-efficacy, as measured by the New General Self-Efficacy Scale, was also examined as a reentry strategy. Survey research was used to gather data from previous stay-at-home mothers who had successfully reentered and stay-at-home mothers currently in the job search process (N=157). Logistic regressions and Pearson correlations were used to determine significant relationships between network size and self-efficacy upon reentry success; however, network size was negatively correlated with reentry success. The results of this study can be used by highly educated, stay-at-home mothers contemplating workplace reentry as well as vocational counselors who assist this group of job seekers. Highly educated, stay-at-home mothers can use the results of this study to improve their chances of effectively transitioning back into the workplace while also altering the perception of the traditional, stay-at-home mother.

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