MASON CITY — The Pew Research Center released a survey based on its findings from 2,242 working parents, primarily from two-parent households where both parents are employed full-time. The survey indicates that a majority of working parents report challenges in giving full effort to both their work and home lives, with mothers experiencing these effects disproportionately.

Two-thirds of mothers surveyed indicated they could not provide 100% effort at home, while just over half reported they could not give their full effort at work. For fathers surveyed, half stated they could not give 100% effort at home, and approximately a third reported an inability to provide full effort at work. "We see that parents are facing lots of demands from both work and family, and that the boundary between those is often blurry," said Rachel Minkin, a Pew senior researcher.

Census data analysis reveals shifts in family structures over time. In 1975, 31% of families had both parents working full-time. This figure is projected to reach 52% in 2025. Conversely, in 1975, 42% of families had fathers working full-time and mothers not working outside the home, a figure projected to decrease to 23% in 2025.

The survey also noted concerns among lower-income parents regarding lost pay due to family leave, particularly for single mothers. Black and Hispanic parents reported higher levels of concern about losing pay for family leave compared to white and Asian parents. Approximately 75% of parents surveyed do not have remote work options. Of those who work remotely, nearly 40% reported frequently handling parenting tasks during work hours, and about a third stated they frequently manage work tasks during family time.

Amber Petersen, a legal assistant in Mason City, Iowa, describes a constant internal conflict. "I feel like that tug of war is constantly on my mind of where I need to be, if I am missing out as a mom, or if I am disappointing somebody at work," Petersen said. She added, "There's just no way to be two things at once and give 100% at both." Petersen's employer allows her to leave work for family matters, but she does not receive paid sick leave, though she does receive paid vacation days. Her husband, Neil Petersen, works in a factory painting industrial trucks, and his employer links raises to attendance, penalizing unexpected absences.

Childcare arrangements present additional challenges for the Petersens. Amber Petersen pays $180 weekly for her 4-year-old son's care at a center. For her daughters, aged 11 and 12, she determined two years ago that they could stay home unsupervised. "We kind of had to make that decision a little sooner than I would have liked to," Petersen said. A summer program for her daughters exceeded the family's budget. Nearly half of surveyed parents with school-aged children reported difficulty arranging summer childcare. Petersen noted that the family does not have an emergency fund because they cannot afford to save. "One thing about it being a small firm is they are unable to offer some of those benefits," Petersen said.