Association between maternal employment and the child´s mental health: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Abstract

The recent rise in maternal workforce participation has led to more research regarding the role of maternal employment for (early) childhood mental health. This systematic review with meta-analysis covers new evidence on the association of both variables. A systematic literature search was conducted. Studies had to compare children 0–7 years of age on the basis of their mothers’ employment status, working amount, employment duration, i.e., how long the mother had been back at work after birth, or timing of return to work. Child mental health was operationalized as behavior problems and prosocial behavior. Narrative and meta-analytic syntheses of evidence were conducted. Maternal employment was associated with more conduct problems but less internalizing behavior problems and anxious/depressed behavior in children; full-time employment was linked to more externalizing behavior problems and more hyperactivity/inattention. Longer employment duration was related to less (internalizing) behavior problems and more prosocial behavior but also more externalizing behavior problems. Narrative syntheses indicated early maternal return to work to be associated with more child externalizing behavior problems and less prosocial behavior. Whether maternal employment is associated with child mental health strongly depends on both variables’ operationalization. Especially part-time employment, longer employment duration, and return to work only after the first year postpartum may be beneficial for child mental health. Practical implications pertain to an expanded offer of family leave and the endorsement of maternal employment after the first year postpartum. Here, factors that may buffer the negative associations with full-time employment warrant consideration.

Family separation from military service and children's externalizing symptoms: Exploring moderation by non‐military spouse employment, family financial stress, marital quality, and the parenting alliance

“…Employment provides more than financial stability, as employment can foster feelings of independence or fulfillment, and offer a community for parents outside the home. Among civilian populations, evidence for links between a primary caregiver's employment and children's externalizing has been mixed, with some work suggesting negative effects and others suggesting positive (Kopp et al., 2023). For example, some work on mother's employment suggests that working for a longer duration may be good for children's behavioral development, whereas returning to work during the first year postpartum may be deleterious (Kopp et al., 2023).…”

“…Among civilian populations, evidence for links between a primary caregiver's employment and children's externalizing has been mixed, with some work suggesting negative effects and others suggesting positive (Kopp et al., 2023). For example, some work on mother's employment suggests that working for a longer duration may be good for children's behavioral development, whereas returning to work during the first year postpartum may be deleterious (Kopp et al., 2023). These findings highlight the complexity of parental employment as a potential moderator.…”