Stress and Coping Mechanisms Among Working Mothers in Urban India: A Descriptive Study
Abstract: Working mothers in urban India carry the demands of paid employment and most of the household work at the same time. This study examined perceived stress and coping mechanisms among working mothers, the relationship between the two, and the role of demographic variables. In a descriptive cross-sectional design, a purposive sample of working mothers aged 25 to 50 years from an urban area of Karnataka completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Brief COPE Inventory online. The mean perceived stress score was 22.20 (SD = 6.12), and 92.2 percent of the mothers were in the moderate or high range. Acceptance, positive reframing, active coping and planning were the most used strategies. Avoidant coping was positively related to stress (r = .29, p = .022); self-blame showed the strongest relationship of any strategy (r = .53, p
Keywords: perceived stress, coping, working mothers, work-family conflict, Brief COPE, India
How to Cite?: J. P. Ashwini, "Stress and Coping Mechanisms Among Working Mothers in Urban India: A Descriptive Study", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 526-530, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR261008105936, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR261008105936