Work, Motherhood, and Breastfeeding—oh My!: Shame and Guilt as Conduits of the Effects of Perceived Self-discrepancies on Key Work and Breastfeeding Outcomes

Hannah M. Markell-Goldstein

Advisor: Seth Kaplan, PhD, Department of Psychology

Committee Members: Lois Tetrick, Leah Adams

Online Location, #2084
June 09, 2020, 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Abstract:

Although women represent an increasingly larger percentage of the workforce over the past few decades (United States Department of Labor, 2015), new mothers who breastfeed continue to face challenges upon their return to the workplace. The present study aims to explore the intrapersonal experiences of women managing working full-time outside the home while breastfeeding. Using an experience sampling-type methodology I integrate my findings into a framework derived from previous work-family literature, research on self-conscious emotions (Tangney & Tracy, 2011), and self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). Participants (N=154) were surveyed weekly for 5 weeks upon their return to work post-maternity leave. The weekly questionnaire contains scales assessing state-level self-conscious emotions and self-discrepancies as well as role centrality, life satisfaction, and intent to quit breastfeeding or one’s job. Results indicated that while each of the three categories of self-discrepancy (motherhood, work and breastfeeding) significantly predicted state-guilt, only motherhood-focused self-discrepancy (SD) significantly predicted state-shame. Furthermore, whereas both shame and guilt predicted all three outcomes (intent to quit breastfeeding, intent to quit job, and life-satisfaction), only guilt served to mediate the relationships between self-discrepancies and these outcomes. Finally, mixed results were obtained regarding the moderating effects of intrapersonal role centrality on the relationships between SDs and state-level self-conscious emotions with only work-focused role centrality significantly moderating the relationships. These findings provide new insight into the nature of shame and guilt and how both emotions may operate in the context of managing working while breastfeeding.