Participants of the 5 week Switch Workshop for Working Mothers completed the survey again. The purpose was to investigate some pre- and post workshop effects to see whether the coaching workshop had any effect on stress and guilt.

The data received from  the post workshop survey shows that working mothers were now making more time for themselves and for their children. Children’s behaviour had improved; in particular no more extreme bad behaviour was reported. Stress and guilt dropped considerably*. Mothers who considered themselves in the high level of guilt group now no longer existed (where it had previously measured 12% of mothers). Mothers were not blaming themselves as much for being a ‘bad’ mother. Extreme high level stress sufferers reduced to 5% (previously 21%). Mothers were making more time for exercise and felt more energetic which, hopefully, will have a beneficial effect on their general health and wellbeing, both mentally and physically. Now, 95% of mothers reported having effective coping mechanisms in place. They keep reminding themselves of how they can effectively use the tools they learned through the workshop. In general, women were also displaying healthier food habits.

However, some mothers reported spending slightly less time with their partner and said that feelings of anger and irritability towards them had slightly increased. (This might be contributed to the fact that they realise they need more ‘me’ time which could in turn affect the relationship). A few were still experiencing feelings of resentment. Some reported experiencing a slight increase in the incidence of feeling sick, however, this could be season related as the post survey took place in winter.

What impact did the workshop have on the workplace?

Overall relationships with colleagues at work improved as women noted they felt less anger, irritability and impatience towards others. About 22% more people report ‘no relationship problems with work colleagues’. Generally, participants said they were enjoying work more than they were prior to the workshop, feelings of stress and guilt interfere slightly less with their focus at work, efficiency increased and errors have reduced. In fact, repetitive errors no longer occur and the rate of occasional to more often occurring errors dropped by almost 50% (from 82% down to 47%).

——————————-

* Stress and guilt were also measured at onset of the workshop and weekly at the beginning of each workshop session. Over the 5 week period, stress dropped across the groups on average by 30.5% and guilt by over 47% with the highest drop measuring 57% for stress and 78% for guilt.