Does a paycheck make mom more healthy?
In reaction to preliminary findings presented at the American Sociological Association annual meeting in Denver this weekend, several news sources have published article proclaiming working moms to be more healthy than moms who stay home with their children. Read the Everyday Health Article here.
“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,” study author Adrianne Frech, an assistant sociology professor, said in an American Sociological Association news release. Full-time workers usually make more money, have more opportunities for promotion, increased job security and more employment benefits than women who work part time. Stay-at-home moms may be financially dependent and at higher risk of social isolation than working mothers.”
It will be interesting to read the full peer reviewed article when it is released, until then I am a bit suspicious of the notion that a paycheck or the status of an employed person somehow creates better health.
It is far more likely that working moms benefit from the structure of a job, while stay-at-home moms do not.
Working moms get a lunch break, paid vacation, and often in-house wellness programs.
Working moms benefit from a supervisor who lets them know they are doing a good job, provides training and skill development, and hopefully support in challenging situations.
Healthy habits are difficult to maintain when you struggle to get into the shower on a daily basis!
Whether you work at home or out of the home, being active, eating well, and managing your stress are essential to your success as a mother and a woman.
Be kind to yourself. Don’t buy into the working mom/stay-at-home mom debate – focus on you and your healthy habits and be proud of the job you do for yourself and your family!
- Eliz Greene
Eliz Greene works busy people to improve heart health, so they can work well, feel better, and stress less.
She is a heart attack survivor and the author of the Busy Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Heart as well as 3 other books on wellness. She writes one of the top 50 health and wellness blogs and is a sought-after wellness & stress management speaker.
If you are planning a women’s wellness program, workplace wellness program or programs for healthcare professionals check out EmbraceYourHeart.com to see if Eliz would be a good fit with your organization.
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