SINGLE WOMAN PARENTS' TYPOLOGY OF STRAIN PERSPECTIVES: AN EXPLANATORY SEQUENTIAL INQUIRY

Abstract Work and family life balance is a challenge for single parents worldwide. This explanatory sequential inquiry aimed to identify the motherhood–workplace negotiation ideologies labelled as reinvented motherhood, work–family symbiosis, work-centered motherhood, and work–family conflicted motherhood; challenges, key drivers; support systems; and management strategies used to achieve work-life balance of 60 single woman parents. Mean, frequency and percentage, SD, Mann-Whitney were used in the quantitative analyses and FGD composed of 12 participants was conducted to answer the qualitative research objectives. Results showed a lean motherhood ideology and flexible workplace behavior among single mothers and there were no significant differences in their perspectives when grouped as to age, education, and number of children. The qualitative analyses resulted in emerging themes on challenges of single woman parents described as emotionally and financially challenged, time deficient, and gossiping tendencies. Key drivers were physical and emotional attachment, self-motivation, family support, friends, devotion, work, and personal ideology. Lastly, management strategies include manage your time, ask assistance from others, budget daily income, seek parental support, earn additional income, be flexible, and raise independent children. The results point out at the government to have programs in improving the work–life balance of single woman parents.