The “Third Shift:” A Qualitative Investigation of the Experiences of Working Mothers in Academia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Through conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a sample of working mothers in academia (N = 6), I delved into their experiences amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Grounded in the theoretical framework of the Psychology of Working Theory (PWT; Duffy et al., 2016) and employing interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA; Smith et al., 2009), I explored the outcomes of decent work (e.g., survival needs, social connection needs, self-determination needs, work fulfillment, and well-being), particularly for those navigating the challenges of the "third shift." Across the interviews, I identified a total of nine themes, encompassing three themes each for the time periods (pre-COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic, and post-COVID-19 pandemic periods), shedding light on the complexities of balancing work and personal life. Participants shared insights into the significance of flexibility and the process of identity transformation in their experiences. The results of this study corroborate the idea that attaining decent work is associated with diverse outcomes in line with the PWT for the marginalized subgroup of working mothers in academia. I conclude by offering suggestions for future research directions and discussing potential implications for clinical interventions aimed at supporting working mothers in academia. Keywords: Working mothers, women in academia, COVID-19, third shift, Psychology of Working Theory (PWT), Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)