Abstract
Single-mother households in Turkey face distinct socioeconomic and emotional vulnerabilities due to the dual burden of sole breadwinning and caregiving in a sociocultural context that traditionally relies on patriarchal and extended family support mechanisms. This mixed-methods convergent study investigated the coping mechanisms, work-life management practices, and psychosocial support requirements of working single mothers across three major metropolitan provinces in Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir). The quantitative component surveyed 348 employed single mothers using standardized measures of work-family conflict, multidimensional perceived social support, and psychological well-being, while the qualitative strand engaged 24 participants in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Quantitative findings revealed that higher reliance on formal organizational flexibility significantly attenuated work-to-family strain, yet informal kinship networks remained the primary buffer against parenting-related emotional distress. Qualitative narratives further highlighted persistent maternal guilt, institutional gaps in accessible after-school childcare, and workplace stigmatization. Structural equation modeling indicated that psychosocial support acted as a critical mediating variable between occupational role ambiguity and maternal subjective well-being. The study emphasizes the urgent need for targeted municipal childcare infrastructures, subsidized mental health counseling, and family-friendly workplace policies tailored to the non-traditional family structures increasingly shaping contemporary Turkish society.
