STRESSED AND OVERLOADED
Our survey with over 1100 participants shows: Many mothers are currently reaching their limits
boep founder and managing director Michaela (30) is currently pregnant with her third child and knows what challenges young, working families are currently facing. That's why it was a personal concern of you, our community, to find out how you are doing and how you are coping with the current state of emergency.
Around 1150 people completed our survey; mostly women between the ages of 18 and 44. The results show: The corona pandemic weighs particularly heavily on the shoulders of mothers with children of childcare age.
On average, the mothers surveyed take on around 75% of childcare and homeschooling; less than a quarter receive actual relief through emergency care offers. At the same time, the lack of social contacts is a burden their own well-being and that of their children.
New everyday life: "Juggling between home office & home schooling plus everyday household tasks and zero break time for me"
Around 1150 people took part in our survey between May 8th and 12th. Around 90% of the participants came from Germany, 5% from Austria and 3% from Switzerland. Almost 75% of all participants were mothers between the ages of 18 and 44 with children under the age of 10.
Around 78% of this group said they had been a little or a lot lately feeling stressed more often than usual. Over 60% also reported feeling feeling overwhelmed and powerless more often than before the pandemic.
Despite the hustle and bustle around them, around 70% of them feel the same way lonely more often than usual. It is interesting that the women surveyed of the same age without children (approx. 17% of all participants) also feel more lonely (approx. 60%) and more often powerless (approx. 62%) than before.
Stress test: "Being there for both children around the clock with hardly any support and doing everything justice."
How do these feelings come about? Our survey suggests various reasons: according to their own assessment, the women surveyed are currently taking on around 75% of childcare and homeschooling – often in addition to gainful employment – while their partners only take on an average of 25% of the care, if they take on any part at all. The emergency care of the day-care centers and schools has so far hardly been able to compensate for the lack of support; Less than a quarter of the mothers surveyed even stated that part of the care was provided by institutions.
It is therefore not surprising that the biggest wish of around 25% of mothers in the last few weeks was the opening of daycare centers, schools and other care facilities. The only wish that was given more frequently (approx. 35% of the answers) was the end or relaxation of the contact limit. After all, it was precisely the contact blocks that hardly allowed family help. This shows that the necessity of the measures is definitely accepted, but it is above all the lack of possibility to organize alternative care that is a burden.
The women surveyed of the same age without children also most frequently wished to be able to see friends and family again without restrictions (approx. 29%) and to be able to attend/organize private parties (approx. 13%). Social distancing was and is important to contain the pandemic, but weighs heavily on the shoulders of the boep community.
When asked the open question “What is currently bothering you the most in your private life?”, more than 40% of the mothers’ answers related to the lack of social contacts ; their own but also that of the children – and the psychological consequences of this. There is also the concern that the state of emergency of the last few weeks has not left their children untouched. Around a fifth of the mothers surveyed assessed the stress on the children as a result of the situation as severe or very severe.
Particularly in comparison with women of the same age without children, it is striking that the mothers surveyed often complained that "not to do justice to anyone" ; neither the children, the partner, the employer nor yourself.
This multiple burden accumulates in an exhausting lack of time for oneself and for togetherness and represents a stress test for many, which continues despite the latest easing. The lion's share of care is still provided by women, and there are few truly equal divisions.
We think it's time to seek an exchange with us mothers and to work on solutions for how family life and employment can work again even in times of Corona. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your participation and think you deserve to be heard!
The final question: Can you see something positive in the situation?
"More time with close family, less private appointment stress, lots of time outside in nature."
"The willingness and implementation to support each other or to help others —> mindfulness."
"The cohesion of the family has become stronger ❤."
The enthusiasm for the boep jumped directly from Michaela to me. We haven't used anything else at home since then. Husband, kids and I are absolute boep fans and in every gift for a new baby in our circle of friends there is shampoo, bath oil and the cream for kisses.
Christina Kaut , entrepreneur from Wuppertal
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We look forward to staying in touch with you!
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