Examining the Interplay of Spirit at Work, Rigid Maternal Beliefs, and Resilience on Working Mothers’ Mental Health: A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract Returning to work after maternity leave requires a great management of time and resources and could be a risk factor for women’s mental health. In addition, rigid maternal beliefs could create a cycle of negative thinking that undermines mothers’ resources. This paper aims to test the role of rigid maternal beliefs in the relationship between spirit at work, resilience, and poor mental health. A self-report questionnaire was administered to 200 Italian working mothers. A structural equation model with observed variables was implemented to investigate the relationship between spirit at work and poor mental health and test the mediator role of resilience and the moderator role of rigid maternal beliefs. Results show a significant negative effect of spirit at work on poor mental health mediated by resilience. Rigid maternal beliefs moderate the relationship between spirit at work and resilience, and the mediated effect decreases to non-significance with the increase of rigid maternal beliefs. Findings suggest that action can be taken on multiple fronts to improve working mothers’ mental health. Organizations can promote interventions to strengthen employees’ resources (e.g., spirit at work, resilience) and improve the management of rigid maternal beliefs. Integrating different psychological strategies can help women better manage adversity while supporting them in coping with working mothers’ challenges.