The impact of children on women managers' career behavior and organizational commitment

Abstract

Having children has been assumed to reduce womens' organizational commitment and involvement in their work and increase their likelihood of turnover. This assumption was examined by comparing 169 women MBAs who had children with 191 who did not on the basis of their responses to a survey. After controlling for differences in age, experience and work status, results showed no differences in met expectations, turnover intentions, commitment, satisfaction, job characteristics, or perceptions of progress. However, women with children scored lower on job involvement and reported fewer work hours. While parenting demands may affect these variables, they may not necessarily affect work-related attitudes, professional attainment, attachment to the job, or commitment to the organization. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.