Expecting to work, fearing homelessness: The possible selves of low-income mothers

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Shawna J Lee1, Daphna Oyserman

  • 1School of Social Work. Faculty Affilitate, Merrill-Palmer Skillman Institute for Child and Family Development.

Journal of Applied Social Psychology
|June 22, 2010
PubMed

We explored the content of possible selves of low-income mothers and the strategies they have to work on their possible selves. Positive, expected possible selves focused on getting a job, making ends meet and caregiving. Negative, to-be-avoided possible selves focused on failing to make ends meet, losing (or not getting) jobs, and problems with mental health. Immediate social context, rather than demographic characteristics or global work-family variables, were associated with content of possible selves. Controlling for demographic and work-family variables, job-focused possible selves (and strategies to attain them) were more salient and caregiving and mental health-related possible selves (and relevant strategies) less salient to mothers in job-training programs vs. welfare offices.

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