The relationship between mothers with careers in higher education and child development in Indonesia

Objectives: To identify the association of mothers with a career in higher educati--on and their children's growth and development. Methods: This was an analytical study with a crosssectional design carried out at Wiraraja University, Sumenep, Indonesia, from March to August 2023. The samples were female lecturers at Wiraraja University. A total of 107 mothers were selected using total sampling. The mother's career was identified using a questionnaire and their child's growth and development were measured using child development pre-screening questionnaire. This study used Spearman's test data analysis. Results: The correlation coefficient was 0.512 indicating a moderately strong relationship between working mothers and their child's growth and development. The findings suggest that time mothers' work-life balance, time allocation, and other support for caring child significantly impact developmental milestones. Conclusion: There is a strong correlation between the time spent with children and the child's growth and development. For working mothers in academia, creating a supportive family or childcare environment and creating dedicated, quality time for interaction with their children are essential. Working mothers are encouraged to manage their time effectively to balance professional and parenting responsibilities and to engage in activities that enhance their children's physical, mental, and emotional development.