Browsing by Author "Nikitin, Noora"

The purpose of this research was to figure out how shift working mothers experience their everyday lives. Nowadays working in shifts is common so it is important to get acquainted with these kinds of families and their experiences of everyday life. The study was used to find out the threats and opportunities of shift work and what mothers think about combining shift work and family life. Previous studies have clarified that working in shifts burdens parents and has an affect on family and social relationships. This thesis can help to get answers on what factors parents feel are a strain and on the other hand what factors act as resources in everyday life. Stress in everyday life can be decreased by enjoying the little things in life such as the alone time on the way to work or a family meal. This study was carried out with qualitative research. The Data was collected using a thematic interview (n=6) and the respondents were found from a Facebook group called Äitylit. A post was made to the Facebook group in which the purpose of the research was explained and suitable respondents were recommended to contact the researcher via personal message. The interviewees were mothers doing shift work who have atleast one child aged 7-10 years. This was because researching the mothers’ everyday lives was more easy using limitations. Five of the interviews were carried out using Facebook videocall and one was carried out using e-mail. The research data was first analyzed with thematising and then with content analysis. According to the results of this research, mothers working in shifts thought their everyday life is irregular and they felt tired. Additionally they brought up problems with schedules and little time with family and loved ones. On the other hand, shift work also enables things in life, for example better pay, free weekdays, doing things during the week and picking up children from school. Also variability in everyday life was a positive thing. The Spouse and his possible daytime job, grandparents and close ones helped to combine shift work and family life. How mothers feel in their everyday lives is dependent on the family.