Are Working Moms Healthier Moms? — Health Check
Many new mothers grapple with whether or not they should work while their children are still young.
But if a new study is to be believed, it can actually benefit a woman’s health to collect a paycheck between changing diapers.
The 20-year study of about 1,300 women found that those who worked were less depressed and reported better overall health than stay-at-home moms, which could be partially explained by the social isolation and stress that home-bound mothers often feel.
Overall, working moms reported fewer symptoms of depression and were more likely than non-employed mothers to rate their health “excellent.”
However, it’s not necessary to clock an 80-hour work week to see those benefits. Compared to moms who work full-time, those with part-time jobs actually reported less conflict between work and family. They were also just as involved in their child’s schooling as stay-at-home moms, and they provided more learning opportunities for their toddlers than both stay-at-home moms and moms who worked full-time.
Bottom line? If you want to work when your child is young, don’t feel guilty about it. It may actually benefit both of you.
More From Lite 98.7
Massive Tornado Hits Moore, Oklahoma Elementary School – Devastation from Mile-wide Twister in Oklahoma City Area
Jim Brickman Hosts “Backstage with Brickman” Ustream Broadcast Wednesday
Zombies Demonstrate Parkour Skills in ‘The Flipping Dead’
Leave a Comment