Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Vocational Well-Being of Women in Counseling Psychology

Abstract

Navigating employment and familial obligations has challenged women since their mass entry into public work. The demands of competing obligations can negatively impact women’s personal and vocational well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the challenge of balancing work and family roles as women faced expanded physical, caretaking, and mental labor, often resulting in role strain. This study explored how women in counseling psychology experienced role strain and its resulting impact on vocational well-being during the pandemic. Demand for counseling psychology services rose during the pandemic, potentially increasing role strain. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with six counseling psychologists who identified as women, employed full-time, and mothers to at least one child aged 12 or younger. Data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, and five themes emerged: gender expectations, multiple roles, vocational well-being, consequences, and profession differences. Implications for practitioners working with mothers in these roles are provided.