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Mums who work are healthier than stay at home mums a new study has revealed.
Researchers from the University of Akron and Penn State University studied 2,540 women who became mums between 1978 and 1995, examining their employment history. The Telegraph reports.
Working Mums Are Healthier Than Stay At Home Mums
It seems that mothers who work full time are of better health. I am not greatly surprised to find that the study also concluded that mothers who went back to work full time after having a baby also showed better health, both physically and mentally. I will always say that being away from home and working is easier than being at home all day with young children.
Professor Adrianne Frech said: “Work is good for your health, both mentally and physically.
“It gives women a sense of purpose, self-efficacy, control and autonomy. They have a place where they are an expert on something, and they’re paid a wage.”
While I agree to some extent from personal experience I found it incredibly difficult to return to full time work after the birth of my own children and this consumed me with guilt. While I enjoyed my career I did feel I was not being a great mother. My head and heart were pulled in opposite directions.
I agree that full time employment gives mothers a more settled and safe environment whereas part time work brings a lower salary and less chances of getting up that career ladder.
“If women can make good choices before their first pregnancy, they likely will be better off health-wise later. Examples of good choices could be delaying your first birth until you’re married and done with your education, or not waiting a long time before returning to the workforce.”
Young women should get an education and build up a work history before having a child, she advises.
“Work makes you healthier. You will have the opportunity to save a nest egg. Also, should a divorce happen, it is harder to enter the workforce if you don’t have a solid work history. Don’t give up on work and education.”
I do at times wish that I had started my career before I had my children, it would have been easier to have had money in the bank and a home set up but then I wonder if it is because of my children that I now have a high desire to do all I can with my life, be a positive role model and want to succeed because they have given me the determination to better my life so it betters theirs.
Do you believe that working mums are healthier than stay at home mums?
About The Real Supermum
I had my career first then had my baby and to be honest it’s good that I have a job that I can go back to at any time .. In a hairdresser so a trade that will always be needed .. I’m lucky x
I am always a little bit skeptical about these studies – not that I think the research is flawed – I do university level research myself and it’s always done to a very high standard – but the headlines that come from the research are created by the press team and are not always 100% accurate, if you see what I mean. Yes, I see that mums who work are probably healthier, but that does not mean that working makes a mum healthy. What is more likely is that women who are healthier tend to be able to work longer and harder and therefore flourish in a career more than someone who has a disability, say or a long-term illness. The woman with a long-term illness has less incentive to work at her career, knowing that work will aggravate the illness or that her career may be cut short anyway. The decision to stay at home and not return to work is far easier for someone who feels they have fewer career prospects or doesn’t enjoy working. The healthy mum has more options available to her, so is more likely to return to work, hence working mums tend to be more healthy. I don’t feel any less healthy being a SAHM as oppose to when I worked full-time. Actually, in some respects I eat better being at home all the time and have more exercise than when I did an office job. Was I happier? I don’t know about that one.
Anyway, I don’t think there is a right or wrong age to be a mother either. I waited to have mine but then had to bomb out of my career. My SIL had hers very young. They had a tiny house and no money, but now she’s getting some sort of life back while she’s still young enough to benefit from it. It’s a tough one. Just popped over to admire the ranking by the way!
I have doubts about this study too … friend of mine returned to work when her lg was 6 months old. When the lg was 3 years old she handed in her notice and pulled her lg out of nursery. Both were exhausted and my friend in debt for sending her to nursery.
Job dependant of course, you wouldnt be physically as healthy at work as you are at home running around after a crawling/shuffling/walking toddler!
Job dependant of course, you wouldnt be mentally as healthy at work as any decent mum would be constantly worrying about their lo at nursery and trying to juggle the work / home / mum plates.
I waited until I was 39 to have my lg – prince charming fell through so ended up being single at 20 weeks pregnant – I had the career, I had the social life, I had the money so at my ripe age I now feel I can be a totally selfless mum and feel healthy and happy about doing that.
Im not planning on returning to work for a while at least. That will make me feel healthier and happy knowing I have brought my lg up as much as I can and seen her take those precious important first milestones.
Being a full time mum I have a sense of purpose – bringing up my daughter, I am controlled (well unless my lg tips me over the edge lol), I am an expert at many things (calpol administration in the dark for example) and im furthering my education each day (dont leave your pint of water on the table when your lo starts to pull themsevles up on things), and Im paid in smiles and cuddles and laughter which is simply priceless.
I also have doubts about this. I’m a stay at home mum and I am currently waiting to hear about a job. I feel I will be better off working, as much as I love my children, they drive me crazy and having to do the sane thing day in, day out with the only people I talk to are 4 and 2 years old but then I think about the stress of getting them to school and then getting to work and then it’s getting them home in time to have dinner and do homework etc and then what about household chores? Luckily the job is only for 6months but chances are, I will go bald from stress\worrying.
These articles whilst interesting really do come down to an individuals circumstances. I had my 1st 2 children at 22 and 23 and had no career back then. I loved being at home with the kids but felt i should work and over a period of 10 years built up a great career earning a very good salary. As the kids got older the pressure to please evryone got easier and i was quite stress free and healthy in a place where I had a great work life balance.
I was made redundant whilst expecting child number 3 and wondered how we would cope financially. It was probably a blessing though. We have learnt to live without the money and as a result of my super cost saving exercises I have become a pretty good cook, meaning we eat healthy home cooked meals of tiny budgets. I have since had child 4 and the days or working a full time job seem a distant memory. back then I felt great and right now I feel great too.
Makes sense to me, I was a lot healthier when I worked
To be honest I don’t think I agree.
I’m far more happy being at home with my girls than I would be working.
How many people can say they did things the “ideal” way. IE got married, had a job job, had a nice house, saved up plenty & then had a baby??
x
I think this is a too big generalization. Not every working woman has an amazing career that allows for climbing the career ladder, and the ability to afford gym membership, continued education and socializing with friend for drinks after work and whatever it take so have a ‘more balanced life. That said not every stay at home mom is a stressed bundle of nerves. Some SAHM have other ways of keeping their grey matter engaged and they have a wonderful social life and don’t eat second and thirds. They actually have supportive friends and family around.
So while the study raises valid points it to general to accept as gospel truth.
I have to say healthier as in eating n exercise wise yes I do weight watchers and the weeks I’m in holiday from work I always gain weight as I pig out loo x
Tbh it totally depends on the person x
When i had my first baby, once i returned to work my depression got better and i felt more like a human being rather than just a mum, i then left moved house fell pregnant got a new job LOVED it absoloutly amazing feeling working deffinatly agree, now lil one is 6 months im looking for a new job to fit around everything its not going to well lol xxxx
i’m not sure about this surely its down to how you look after yourself the hours you work & where you work compaired to spending x amount of hours with kids at groups etc so maybe exposed to more germs x
I have to say I don’t agree with the ‘working is easier than being at home with young kids all day’ it depends on the job u do. in my case this isn’t true! it is a lot easier being home, doing house work and looking after my daughter than working a 12 hour shift on an emi unit!
I don’t agree, I love being a stay at home mum spending all day with my children. Don’t get me wrong once kids are bk at nursary I will be goin bk to work but till then I’m ejoying staying at home xx
I had my baby at 17 went to work when I was 20 I enjoy working 24 hours a week over 3 days I feel I have enough time wih my little one I can decide what shifts I do and do not want to do so if I want to do anything special with oh and lo I can ring work and tell them I don’t want to work that day
xxx
I cant say I agree with this as being on both sides of it, working and a SAHM I found I was much better in myself being a SAHM. I work a few hours a week now but it fits in when my son goes to his dads. I think its different for everyone each person will obviously feel different depending on their own situations