The Survey of Mothers in Europe was conducted by the European delegation of the World Movement of Mothers (MMM Europe), a partner in the Family Platform (www.familyplatform.eu) launched by the Research Directorate of the European Commission in 2009 (7th framework programme) to generate a research agenda for evidence-based family policy. The main objective of the survey was thus to gather the priorities, challenges and wishes of mothers across Europe about their wellbeing and that of their families. The survey ran in 10 languages across 16 European countries and received responses from more than 11,000 mothers. Expert interviews, focus groups, survey preparation, and analysis were done by volunteer mothers at MMM Europe’s Brussels office.

Online survey with 11,244 mothers in 17 European countries. The questionnaire was developed through a series of focus groups and individual interviews and a review of recent European research. The survey instrument consisted of twenty-five basic questions with various subqueries. On average participants took 25 minutes to complete it. The questions were grouped into the following areas:  Family background: Variables include age; family structure; number, age and residence of children.  Socio-demographic background: Variables include age, educational attainment, employment, affiliation, voluntary activity, religious commitment, migration background, and residence location.  Satisfaction as a mother: Variables include satisfaction and contributing factors.  Opinions on family issues: Degree of agreement or disagreement with common statements about mothers and family.  Time use: Variables include theoretical preference for paid employment versus and actual engagement in employment, and versus family care, and satisfaction with time use.  Retirement: Variables include plans, concerns, envisioned time use, housing, and financial preparation.  Intergenerational and social networks of support: Variables explore family and other sources of social and material support.  Family relationships: Variables include causes of difficulty within the family, relationships with children and partner, and factors deemed important in determining the quality of child and partner relationships. Free-text open responses were solicited on the following topics:  “If you were talking to a woman who is pregnant with her first child, how would you describe what it is like to transition into being a mother?”  “If you could launch a message to the political world in order to increase the family’s wellbeing, what would it be?”  Of those reporting dissatisfaction with current work schedule, the following question was posed: “Please explain why you are dissatisfied about your current work schedule.”  Other: Twelve of the typically fixed-choice questions include a final answer category termed “Other” or “Other, please explain”.