Record Details
Identification of management problems of young homemakers married in their teens
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Identification of management problems of young homemakers married in their teens |
| Names |
Echols, Melionee Allen
(creator) Plonk, Martha A. (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 1969-06-09 (iso8601) |
| Note | Graduation date: 1970 |
| Abstract | This study was designed (1) to identify and describe young homemakers' problems through expressed difficulties in homemaking activities, (2) to investigate the relationship between the expressed problem areas and the homemakers' length of marriage, family composition, employment status and family income, and (3) to determine additional homemaking information young homemakers want and the source from which they would like to obtain it. The sample consisted of 50 homemakers married in their teens. They were all 22 years old or younger, had been married at least six months, but no longer than three years, and were living in Corvallis, Oregon, at the time of the interviews. Thirty-one were student and 19 non-student wives. Stratified sampling was utilized for determining the over-all sample. Random sampling was the technique used to select the sub-sample from each of the two given strata, student and non- student wives. The average age of the homemakers was 20.1 years and the average length of their marriages was 2.2 years. Of these homemakers, 29 had had or were expecting children. Twenty-three were gainfully employed on a full-time basis. Eight had assumed a triple role of homemaker, part-time employee, and student; however, seven were combining the roles of homemaker and student. Twelve were full-time homemakers. The income of these families ranged from under $3,000 to $15,000 per annum. The homemakers expressed difficulty in each of the 16 homemaking activity areas investigated in the study. The homemaking activities studied were planning meals, buying food, preparing food, serving food, preserving food, buying clothing, sewing, caring for clothing, finding a place to live, furnishing the house, equipping the the house, caring for the house, getting ready and caring for the baby, managing money, providing transportation and participating in community organizations. Each homemaker reported difficulty with from one-half to all of the 16 activities. Based on weighted percentages, their major problem was participating in community organizations. The next most frequently reported problem activities were preserving food, caring for the house, sewing, buying clothing, and equipping the house. Of the 33 factors and resources indicated as causing difficulties in the 16 homemaking activity areas, time, money, knowledge, space and equipment were most frequently stated. Homemaking tasks most enjoyed by the majority of homemakers were preparing food, sewing, and housecleaning. On the other hand, ironing, housecleaning, and washing dishes were the tasks least enjoyed. Length of marriage, presence of children, employment status, and income seemed to be somewhat related to the number and kinds of problems these homemakers experienced with their homemaking activities, even though the chi-square tests indicated that this relationship was significant at the .05 level in only two of the 16 activities investigated. These were between preparing food and the homemakers' length of marriage, and between buying clothing and the homemakers' family income. These young homemakers married in their teens recognized their needs and expressed a desire for additional information to help them cope with their homemaking problems. More than 80 percent requested information on furnishing the house, sewing, and preparing food; however, 50 percent or more of them asked for help with eight ( of the 16 homemaking activities. The most requested first choice source for homemaking information was through group meetings; however, magazines, bulletins, newsletters, and books were each mentioned frequently as acceptable sources of information. It was apparent from this study that these young homemakers were confronted with a variety of everyday homemaking problems that require solutions. Whether or not these were solved successfully depended upon the careful and wise choices of resources and decisions made by the homemaker and her family. |
| Genre | Thesis/Dissertation |
| Topic | Home economics |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/46292 |
