According to a study conducted in the United States working mothers are happier than those who stay at home taking care of their children, since they have better health and fewer symptoms of depression.
In addition to reaching this conclusion, the researchers observed that mothers who work part-time balance work and childcare better than those who work full-time.
The study, which has been published in the December issue of the magazine Journal of Family PsychologyIt has been carried out with data from more than 1,300 mothers who were interviewed after the birth of their son and at various later times for more than ten years.
Conclusions of the study
The study showed that mothers who worked full-time or part-time had better overall health and fewer symptoms of depression than those who stayed at home taking care of the children.
Those who worked part-time proved to be just as involved in their children's school as the mothers who stayed at home, being those who worked all day the least related to the school.
The researchers also noted that mothers who worked less hours seemed to be more sensitive with their children and they offered children more learning opportunities than mothers who stayed at home or worked full-time.
Defects of the study
According to the researchers, a possible flaw in the study would be that they have only focused on one specific child per family they have followed from year to year. Some families had more children and this can obviously affect the physical and emotional health of mothers.
On the other hand, some mothers worked during some times and did not do it in others, so I understand that it responded to a question of job offer or lack thereof (that is, that they were left without work), rather than the decision to stop working to take care of the children.
In conclusion, it seems one of many studies that offers conclusions that can lead to misunderstanding: staying home to take care of children can be a decision made by a family, because they are the one they consider best, and can be a direct consequence of not finding a job, having serious economic problems as a side effect and appearing emotional and psychological problems arising from the stress that originates when you see that you do not arrive at the end of the month and do not find work.
Two women can be at home taking care of their children and While one may be the happiest in the world, the other may be the happiest, because that is not what they need neither she nor her family.
