Working moms may deal with more guilt for heading back to the office, but a new study by researchers at Pennsylvania State University claims they're healthier than moms who stay at home, work part time, or are unemployed.
More than 2,500 women who became moms between 1978 and 1995 and returned to work full-time shortly after having children were deemed healthier at age 40, regardless of pre-pregnancy factors, such as employment, race/ethnicity, cognitive ability, single motherhood, prior health conditions and age at first birth.
"Work is good for your health, both mentally and physically," said author Adrianne Frech. "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 called to light the fact that "persistently unemployed" women were the least healthy of the women surveyed.
"Struggling to hold onto a job or being in constant job search mode wears on their health, especially mentally, but also physically," said Frech.
According to Frech, the health perk may be due in part to financial independence, as moms who work part time are paid less, with fewer benefits and chances of promotion, while stay-at-home moms "face financial dependence and greater social isolation."
It's crucial, according to Frech, that women make sound work-related choices before their first pregnancy, in order to reap health rewards later on.
Such sound choices include delaying the first pregnancy until after marriage and schooling, and not waiting a long time before returning to the workforce.
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