Moms Who Work Are Happier, Healthier Than Other Moms
In another article set up to fuel the (media-invented) mommy wars, a study has come out that shows women who work are happier at age 40 than women who don't.
Assistant Sociology Professor Adrianne Frech studied over 2,450 women who had children between 1978 and 1995. The study accounted for many variables including education levels, pre-pregnancy employment, cognitive ability and others. What it found is that women who returned to work soon after their baby were in "better mental and physical health such as greater mobility, more energy and less depression by the age of 40 than moms who did not return to work".
The lead researcher 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."
The study raised alarm bells about women who are "persistently unemployed", meaning they want to work but have trouble finding or keeping a job. These women are especially at risk for depression at the age of 40.
Well, no kidding. If you want to work and you can't, that is depressing. So is turning 40 and realizing that your kids are gone and you have nothing to do all day.
I don't think that it is a huge leap in scientific observation to say that women who have stable incomes are happier than ones who don't. And I don't appreciate the fact this study (like so many others) is being used as fodder in the "mommy wars", which is something the researcher said she did NOT want to happen.
This is not the first study to link working to greater happiness for women with kids. I assume it won't be the last either.
Do you think women with kids who work are happier?
Want more chaos? Last year, I listed the things NOT to say to a pregnant woman.
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