Well-Being of Mothers with Infant Children: A Preliminary Comparison of Employed Women and Homemakers

Abstract

In general, research has demonstrated that employment has positive or neutral effects on women's mental and physical health. Stressors unique to full-time employed mothers of infants, however, may diminish their well-being. This study compared perceived stress levels and health-promotive lifestyles in a sample of full-time employed mothers and homemaking mothers. As expected, full-time employed mothers of infants reported greater perceived stress in their lives and less healthy lifestyles when they were compared with homemakers. The most frequently reported sources of stress for employed mothers of infants were conflicts or problems about returning to work. Findings support the hypothesis that full-time employed mothers of infants may adopt a pattern of self-neglect to cope with work overload.