Hot Topics
Survey Reports
May 9, 1997
MOTHERHOOD TODAY -- A TOUGHER JOB, LESS ABLY DONE
Questionnaire
THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE PRESS
PRINCETON SURVEY RESEARCH ASSOCIATES
STATE OF THE UNION MOTHER S DAY POLL
-- FINAL TOPLINE --
March 14-26, 1997
N= 1101 women 18 or older, including 457 mothers of children under 18
Hello, I am calling for Princeton Survey Research
Associates in Princeton, New Jersey. We are conducting a
telephone opinion survey for leading newspapers and TV stations
around the country.
I'd like to ask a few questions of the OLDEST FEMALE age 18 or
older who is now at home.
NOTE: Although some demographics were asked earlier in the
interview for screening purposes, in this topline all
demographic questions are displayed in the back and all
the substantive questions are displayed in the front.
1. Next, please tell me how satisfied you are with your life
overall -- would you say you are . . .(READ)
Mothers of Mothers of
Children under18 Adult Children Non-mothers
48 Very satisfied, 46 54 43
46 Mostly satisfied, 49 41 50
4 Mostly dissatisfied, or 4 3 3
1 Very dissatisfied? 1 1 2
1 Don t know (DO NOT READ) * 1 2
100 100 100 100
2. Next, I d like to ask you about some different aspects of
your life. As I read the following list, please tell me how
important each aspect is to YOUR PERSONAL HAPPINESS AND
FULFILLMENT using a scale from zero to 10, where 10 means
very important and zero means not important at all.
(First/Next) (ROTATE) -- how important is this to your
personal happiness. (You can use any number between zero
and ten.)
Not
Most Not too Important
Important Important Important at all
(10) (7-9) (5-6) (0-4) DK Mean
Based on women married
or living as married; n=695.
a. Your relationship with your
(husband/ partner) 82 13 3 1 1=100 9.5
Based on mothers of children
under 18; n=457.
b. Your relationship with your
(child/children) under 18 86 12 1 1 0=100 9.6
Based on mothers of adult
children; n=483.
c. Your relationship with your
adult children 77 17 3 2 1=100 9.5
Based on women employed full
or part time; n=661.
d. Your job or career 30 46 18 6 *=100 7.8
Based on women whose mother
is still living; n=732.
e. Your relationship with
your mother 58 29 8 4 1=100 8.8
Based on women whose father
is still living; n=525.
f. Your relationship with
your father 46 31 10 12 1=100 7.9
g. Your relationships
with friends 41 42 14 2 1=100 8.3
h. The things you do in your
free time 37 43 15 3 2=100 8.1
3. Which of these is MOST important to your personal happiness
and fulfillment?
Mothers of Mothers of
Children Adult Non-
under 18 Children mothers
34 Your relationship with your (husband/partner) 28 44 24
19 Your relationship with your (child/children) under 18 51 6 0
13 Your relationship with your adult children 2 29 0
6 Your relationship with your mother 1 1 21
5 Your relationships with friends 1 2 16
4 The things you do in your free time 2 3 8
3 Your job or career 1 1 9
1 Your relationship with your father 0 * 3
9 Don t know 11 10 6
6 None rated 9 or 10 in question 2 3 4 13
100 100 100 100
INTRO TO Q4 AND Q5: Next, please think again about some of the aspects of your life we
just talked about. For each I mention, please tell me how often it s a source of
HAPPINESS for you and how often it s a source of FRUSTRATION.
4. First, is (ROTATE) a source of HAPPINESS for you all the time, most of the time,
sometimes, or hardly ever? (Next how about (INSERT), is this a source of HAPPINESS
all the time, most of the time, sometimes, or hardly ever?)
5. And is (INSERT) a source of FRUSTRATION all the time, most of the time, sometimes, or
hardly ever?
---Source of Happiness--- ---Source of Frustration---
Hardly All or Hardly
All Most Ever/ Most Ever/
the of the Some- Never of the Some- Never
Time Times times (VOL.) DK Time times (VOL.) DK
Based on women married or
living as married; n=695.
a. Your relationship with your
(husband/partner) 26 64 8 2 *=100 10 38 51 1=100
Based on mothers of children
under 18; n=457.
b. Your relationship with your
(child/children) under 18 35 58 7 * 0=100 9 52 39 *=100
Based on mothers of adult
children; n=483.
c. Your relationship with your
adult children 30 59 7 3 1=100 8 33 58 1=100
Based on women employed
full or part time; n=661.
d. Your job or career 9 51 33 7 *=100 21 50 29 *=100
Based on women whose mother
is still living; n=732.
e. Your relationship with your
mother 29 52 14 4 1=100 12 33 54 1=100
6. Considering everything, what would be the ideal situation
for you -- working full-time, working part-time, or not
working at all outside the home?
Based on mothers of children under 18; n=457.
Current
Employment
Status
30 Full-time 51
44 Part-time 18
26 Not at all 31
* Don t know 0
100 100
Next, I have some questions about raising children in this
country today . . .
7. All in all, do you think MOTHERS of children under 18 are
now doing a BETTER job as parents than their own mothers did
20 or 30 years ago, a WORSE job -- or about the SAME job?
Mothers of Mothers of
Children under 18 Adult Children Non-mothers
11 Better 13 10 11
56 Worse 50 57 63
27 About the same 35 25 21
6 Don t know 2 8 5
100 100 100 100
8. In general, do you think it s easier to be a mother today
than it was 20 or 30 years ago, more difficult, or about
the same?
Mothers of Mothers of
Children under 18 Adult Children Non-mothers
7 Easier 9 4 9
81 More difficult 77 86 78
10 About the same 12 8 11
2 Don t know 2 2 2
100 100 100 100
9. In your opinion, what s the MOST important quality for a
mother to have? (OPEN END)
Mothers of Mothers of
Children under 18 Adult Children Non-mothers
36 Love 29 39 41
28 Patience 39 22 20
19 Communicating with/
Understanding children 23 19 19
7 Spending time with
children 7 7 7
6 Caring/Compassion 6 6 7
4 Religious or moral
values 4 5 5
4 Honesty/Trust 3 4 4
4 Ability to Discipline/
Consistency/Setting
limits 3 6 2
3 Commitment 3 4 2
16 Other 13 18 18
3 Don t know 2 3 6
Total exceed 100% due to multiple responses
10. Next, I m going to ask how good a job you think some
different types of parents can do raising kids today.
(First/What about) (ROTATE) -- do you think MOST can do a
good job as parents today, some can, very few can, or none
of them can do a good job as parents today?
Very
Most Some Few None DK
a. Couples in which both
the father and mother
work full-time 29 50 16 2 3=100
b. Couples in which the father
works full-time and the
mother works part-time 54 38 5 1 2=100
c. Couples in which the father
works full-time and
the mother stays home 66 29 3 * 2=100
d. Single mothers 28 54 13 2 3=100
e. Stepmothers 28 52 11 1 8=100
f. Divorced couples who split
custody so the children
live with each parent some
of the time 17 50 23 4 6=100
INTRO TO Q11,Q12,Q13: Now I have some questions about adoption ...
11. In general, do you think MOST white couples can do a good
job raising a black child, some can do a good job, very few
can do a good job, or none can do a good job?
-------Race/Ethnicity------
White Black Hispanic
29 Most can do a good job 31 19 24
49 Some can do a good job 50 46 52
14 Very few can do a
good job 11 24 17
2 None can do a good job 1 5 2
6 Don t know 7 6 5
100 100 100 100
12. In general, do you think MOST white couples can do a good
job raising an Hispanic child, some can do a good job, very
few can do a good job, or none can do a good job?
Based on Form 1; n=555.
-------Race/Ethnicity------
White Black* Hispanic*
29 Most can do a good job 32 15 17
55 Some can do a good job 55 55 63
9 Very few can do a good job 8 13 13
1 None can do a good job * 6 1
6 Don t know 5 11 6
100 100 100 100
* Caution, small sample sizes; 57 blacks, 49 Hispanics
13. In general, do you think MOST white couples can do a good
job raising an Asian child, some can do a good job, very few
can do a good job, or none can do a good job?
Based on Form 2; n=546.
-------Race/Ethnicity------
White Black* Hispanic*
37 Most can do a good job 40 18 28
48 Some can do a good job 47 53 63
6 Very few can do a good job 5 15 2
1 None can do a good job 1 4 1
8 Don t know 7 10 6
100 100 100 100
* Caution, small sample sizes; 67 blacks, 45 Hispanics
14. Next, please tell me if you think each of the following
trends is generally a good thing for our society, a bad
thing for our society, or doesn t make much difference?
(First/Next) (ROTATE)
Doesn't
Good Thing Make Much Bad Thing
for Society Difference for Society DK
a. More mothers of young
children working outside
the home 17 37 41 5=100
b. More women not ever having
children 19 48 24 9=100
c. More women having their first
child after age 35 29 45 22 4=100
d. More single women deciding to
have children without a male
partner to help raise them 7 25 65 3=100
e. More UNmarried couples
deciding to have children 9 26 62 3=100
f. More gay and lesbian couples
raising children 6 31 56 7=100
g. More fathers staying home
with children so their wives
can work full-time 39 38 20 3=100
h. More people who were adopted
as children searching for and
finding their birth mothers 47 32 13 8=100
15. Now I d like you to think back to your childhood . . .when
you were growing up . . . (DO NOT ROTATE)
Yes, No, Didn t
Usually Usually
Did This Do This DK
a. Did your family USUALLY eat
dinner together, or not? 91 8 1=100
b. Did your family USUALLY attend
religious services together,
or not? 72 28 *=100
c. Was your mother USUALLY
there when you got home from
school, or not? 78 21 1=100
d. Was your mother USUALLY able to
attend your events like school
plays, sporting events, or other
activities you were involved in,
or not? 76 22 2=100
16. How often do you talk to your mother these days . . .(READ)
Based on women whose mother is still living; n=732.
45 Everyday or almost everyday,
20 Several times a week,
17 About once a week,
12 A few times a month,
3 A few times a year, or
2 Never?
1 Don t know (DO NOT READ)
100
17. How often, if at all, do you rely on your mother for advice
on how to raise your (child /children). . . (READ)
Based on mothers of children under 18 whose own mother is
still living; n=397.
26 Often,
35 Sometimes,
23 Hardly ever, OR
16 Never ?
* Don t know (DO NOT READ)
100
18. Are you now helping to care for a parent or any other older
relative by supporting them financially or emotionally,
helping them handle their affairs, or helping them care for
themselves?
19. Within the next ten years, do you expect to be doing this
(ADD IF NECESSARY: that is, helping to care for a parent or
any other older relative by supporting them financially or
emotionally, helping them handle their affairs or helping
them care for themselves)?
52 Currently/Expect to be caring for a parent or other older relative
26 Currently caring for a parent or other older relative
26 Expect to be caring for a parent or other older relative in next 10 years
48 Neither
100
20. How much stress or worry do you feel as a result of this --
a lot of stress or worry, some, only a little, or none at
all?
Based on women currently/expect to be caring for a parent or
other older relative; n=591.
Currently Expect to be
14 A lot 21 8
32 Some 33 31
31 Only a little 25 36
22 None at all 19 24
1 Don t know 2 1
100 100 100
21. All in all, how satisfied are you with the job you are doing
as a mother of (a child/children) under 18? Would you say
you are . . . . (READ)
Based on mothers of children under 18; n=457.
35 Very satisfied,
62 Mostly satisfied,
1 Mostly dissatisfied, OR
1 Very dissatisfied?
1 Don t know (DO NOT READ)
100
22. For you personally, what s the most difficult part of being
a mother? (OPEN END)
Based on mothers of children under 18; n=457.
Satisfaction with
-----Current Employment Status--- -----Job as Mother------
Working Working Not Very Less than
Full-time Part-time Working Satisfied Very Satisfied
23 Time Pressures/Balancing 27 18 18 18 26
motherhood with other
parts of your life
21 Disciplining children 21 22 20 20 21
9 Outside influences/ 11 11 6 9 10
Peer pressure
7 Having patience 6 8 8 9 6
7 Work of parenting/ 7 6 8 8 6
Housework
6 Dealing with children 7 6 4 5 6
at different ages
5 Financial worries 4 3 7 5 5
4 Teaching them to do 3 9 4 5 4
the right thing
4 Being a single parent 5 3 4 4 4
4 Dealing with children's 4 4 4 5 4
problems
3 Letting go as child grows 4 2 2 3 3
3 Tiredness 3 3 3 3 3
3 Knowing/Doing what s best 2 2 4 1 4
for your child
2 Communicating with children 1 3 3 2 2
15 Other 13 13 19 14 16
6 Don t know 7 4 6 9 5
Totals exceed 100% due to multiple responses
23. Please tell me if each of the following is a major problem,
a minor problem, or not a problem at all for you as a
mother? (First/Next. . . (ROTATE)
Not A
A Major A Minor Problem
Problem Problem At All DK
Based on mothers of children
under 18; n=457.
a. Finding someone to look after
your (child/children) when
you can t be with them 16 28 56 *=100
Based on working mothers of
children under 18; n=317.
b. Balancing work and family
responsibilities 22 44 34 *=100
Based on mothers of children
under 18 who are married/ living as
married; n=341.
c. Stress on your (marriage/
relationship with your partner) 9 48 43 *=100
D - H are based on mothers of children under 18; n= 457.
d. Not getting enough help and
support from your (child's/
children's) father 23 24 52 1=100
e. Not having enough money to give
your (child/children) what
they need 17 42 41 *=100
f. Not having enough time for
yourself 28 44 28 *=100
g. Finding a job with a schedule
flexible enough to let you meet
your family responsibilities 24 24 50 2=100
h. Controlling the effects that
outside influences, like
television and peer pressure,
have on your (child/children) 26 46 28 *=100
24. Now I d like to ask some questions about the lives of you
and your family. . . . (First/Next. . . ) (DO NOT ROTATE)
Yes, Usually No, Don t
Do This Usually Do This DK
A & b are based on mothers
of children under 18; n=457.
a. Does your family USUALLY eat
dinner together, or not? 80 19 1=100
And situation growing up (Q15) 92 8 *=100
b. Does your family USUALLY attend
religious services together,
or not? 59 40 1=100
And situation growing up (Q15) 72 28 0=100
C & d are based on mothers with
at least one school age child; n=357.
c. Are you USUALLY there when your
(child gets/children get) home
from school, or not? 61 38 1=100
And situation growing up (Q15) 78 22 *=100
d. Are you USUALLY able to attend
your (child s/children s) events like
school plays, sporting events, or other
activities your (child is/children are)
involved in, or not? 94 6 *=100
And situation growing up (Q15) 79 20 1=100
25. How much does it bother you that (INSERT)? Does this bother
you a lot, somewhat, only a little, or not at all?
Some- Only Not
A lot What a Little At All DK
Based on mothers of children
under 18 who don t usually eat
dinner together; n=84.
a. Your family doesn t USUALLY
eat dinner together? 29 32 24 15 0=100
Based on mothers of children
under 18 who don t usually got to
religious services together; n=168.
b. Your family doesn t USUALLY attend
religious services together? 13 32 23 32 0=100
Based on mothers with at least
one school age child who are not
usually there when their children
get home from school; n=139.
c. You aren t USUALLY there when
your (child gets /children get)
home from school? 24 32 28 16 0=100
Based on mothers with at least
one school age child who are not
usually able to attend their
children's events; n=20.
d. You aren t USUALLY able to
attend your (child's/
children's) events? -----sample size too small to report-----
26. All in all, how satisfied are you with your current job --
would you say you are . . . . (READ)
Based on working mothers of children under 18; n=317
31 Very satisfied,
58 Mostly satisfied,
8 Mostly dissatisfied, OR
3 Very dissatisfied?
- Don t know (DO NOT READ)
100
27. What is the MAIN reason you re dissatisfied with your job --
is it because you don t like the work you are doing, you
aren t paid enough, you don t like your boss or the people
you work with, there is too much stress, the location or
commute are inconvenient, your hours are too long, or is it
some other reason?
-------------sample size too small to report---------------
28. If you were looking for a (new) job, how important would it
be that the job had each of the following. (First/Next)
(ROTATE) -- would this be very important, somewhat, not too,
or not at all important?
Based on mothers of children under 18; n=457.
Not
Very Somewhat Not Too Not At All Appl.
Important Important Important Important (VOL.) DK
a. On-site child care 41 13 10 34 2 *=100
b. Part-time hours or
job-sharing 42 29 10 17 1 1=100
c. A flexible work
schedule 73 18 5 3 1 *=100
d. The ability to work
from home 42 26 12 19 * 1=100
29. [If you have an adult child living at home] What s the MAIN
reason (your ___ year old, / this son or daughter) is living
with you now -- is it because he or she . . .(READ)
Based on mothers with adult children living in their household; n=141.
40 Is still in school
38 Can t afford to live on their own or is saving money to go out on their own
13 Just likes living with you
5 Is recently divorced or separated,
2 Has an illness or medical problem
1 Some other reason
1 Don t know (DO NOT READ)
100
30. [If you never had children] Did you choose not to have
children, or did it just happen that way?
Based on women over 45 who have never had children; n=57.
23 Chose not to have children
68 Just happened that way
9 Don t know
100
DEMOGRAPHIC QUESTIONS
D1. Are you the female head of your household?
88 Yes, female head of household
12 No, not female head
* Refused
100
D2. Are you the mother or legal guardian of any children under
18 years of age now living in your household?
38 Yes
62 No
* Refused
100
D4. HOW MANY of your children under 18 now live with you?
Based on mothers of children under 18; n=457.
44 One child
34 Two children
12 Three children
9 Four or more children
1 Refused
100
D5. What is this child s age?/What is the age of your OLDEST
child under 18 now living with you?
Based on mothers of children under 18; n=457
22 0 to 4 years of age
30 5 to 11 years of age
48 12 to 17 years of age
* Refused
100
D6. What is the age of your YOUNGEST child under 18 now living
with you?
Based on mothers with more than one child under 18; n=249.
37 0 to 4 years of age
45 5 to 11 years of age
18 12 to 17 years of age
0 Refused
100
D7. Do you have any ADULT children, that is, sons or daughters
who are now 18 years of age or older?
45 Yes
55 No
* Refused
100
Motherhood Status
74 Total Mothers
38 Mothers with children under 18 in household
45 Mothers with adult children
29 Mothers with only children under 18 in household
35 Mothers with only adult children
10 Mothers with both adult children and children under 18 in household
26 Non-mothers
100
D8. Which, if any, of your own parents are still living . . .
(READ)
41 Both parents
22 Only your mother
4 Only your father, OR
33 Neither parent?
* Don t know/Refused (DO NOT READ)
100
D9. What is your age?
20 18-29
42 30-49
17 50-64
18 65+
3 Refused
100
D10. Are you now married, LIVING as married, widowed, divorced,
separated, or have you never been married?
Mothers of Mothers of
Children under 18 Adult Children Non-mothers
54 Married 66 60 30
3 Living as Married 3 2 4
13 Widowed 2 21 12
12 Divorced 15 12 8
2 Separated 4 2 2
16 Never Married 10 2 44
* Don t know/Refused * 1 *
100 100 100 100
D11. Are you now employed full-time for pay, part-time, are you
retired or are you not employed for pay?
Mothers of Mothers of
Children under 18 Adult Children Non-mothers
42 Employed full-time 51 34 50
15 Employed part-time 18 13 16
21 Retired 1 37 16
18 Not employed 25 13 15
1 Disabled (VOL.) 1 1 1
1 Student (VOL.) 1 * 2
2 Homemaker (VOL.) 3 2 *
* Don t know/Refused 0 * 0
100 100 100 100
D12. Thinking again about your adult children, that is, sons or
daughters who are now 18 years of age or older . . Do any of
your adult children now live in your household, including
any who may be away at school part of the year?/Do you now
live with one of your adult children?
Based on mothers of adult children; n=483.
29 Yes, mother and adult child live together
28 Yes, adult child lives within your household
1 Yes, mother lives with adult child in child's household
70 No
1 Refused
100
D13. What is the age of your OLDEST son or daughter now living in
your household?
Based on mothers with adult children living in their household; n=141.
61 18 to 22 years of age
21 22 to 28 years of age
16 30 and older
2 Refused
100
D14. What is the LAST grade or class that you COMPLETED in
school? (DO NOT READ)
4 None, or grade 1-8
12 High school incomplete (grades 9-11)
34 High school graduate (grade 12 or GED certificate)
4 Business, technical, or vocational school AFTER high school
24 Some college, no 4-year degree
15 College graduate (B.S., B.A. or other 4-year degree)
6 Post-graduate training or professional schooling after
college (e.g., toward A master's degree or Ph.D.; law
or medical school)
1 Refused
100
D15. Last year, that is in 1996, what was your total family
income from all sources, before taxes? Just stop me when I
get to the right category. (READ)
10 Less than $10,000
14 $10,000 to under $20,000
16 $20,000 to under $30,000
20 $30,000 to under $50,000
12 $50,000 to under $75,000
5 $75,000 or under $100,000
3 $100,000 or more
8 Don't know (DO NOT READ)
12 Refused (DO NOT READ)
100
D16. Are you, yourself, of Hispanic or Latino background, such as
Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or some other Spanish
background?
7 Yes
92 No
1 Refused
100
D17. What is your race? Are you white, black, Asian or some other
race?
83 White
12 Black or African-American
* Asian
4 Other or mixed race
1 Refused
100
END OF INTERVIEW. THANK RESPONDENT:
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.
Have a nice day/evening.
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