Abstract
Purpose: Since 1970, women of childbearing age have increasingly participated in the workforce. However, literature on work-family conflict has not specifically addressed the health of postpartum women. This study examined the relationship between work-family conflict and mental and physical health of employed mothers 11 weeks after childbirth. Methods: Employed women, 18 years and older, were recruited while in the hospital for childbirth (N = 817; 71% response rate). Mental and physical health at 11 weeks postpartum was measured using SF-12 version 2. General linear models estimated the associations between the independent variables and health. A priori causal models and directed acyclic graphs guided selection of confounding variables. Results: Analyses revealed that high levels of work interference with family were associated with significantly lower mental health scores. Medium and high levels of family interference with work revealed a dose-response relationship resulting in significantly worse mental health scores. Coworker support was strongly and positively associated with better physical health. Conclusions: Work-family conflict was negatively associated with mental health but not significantly associated with physical health. Availability of social support may relieve the burden women can experience when balancing work roles and family obligations.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 791-798 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Annals of epidemiology |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2007 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was supported by grant 5 R18 OH003605-05 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH. Gratitude is extended to the doctoral training program in occupational health services research and policy made possible through the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety and Educational Research Center supported, in part, by NIOSH (T24/CCT 510422-04-01).
Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Keywords
- Job Satisfaction
- Maternal Welfare
- Minnesota
- Postpartum Period
- Women's Health
- Work