Working Moms Are Happier Than Stay-at-Home Moms

Photo: Veer

Sure, one recent report said that multitasking, working moms have it harder than dads, but now a new study says that working mamas might be better off -- and maybe even healthier and happier than stay-at-home moms. The American Psychological Association published the study in Journal of Family Psychology, which analyzed interviews of 1,364 moms, done right after they had given birth and over the 10 years afterward.

The conclusion? Part time work may be the way to go. Depression was most common among the stay-at-home moms -- maybe because many of the working moms took pride in their jobs, believing that their careers supported their families and also helped them be better mothers. Employed mothers were still involved in their children’s lives. The moms tended to prefer part-time work over full-time work or not working at all. Part-time working moms had better health and fewer signs of depression than stay-at-home moms did, too. The data showed that mothers who worked part-time were more sensitive with their children and provided more learning opportunities for their toddlers than stay-at-home moms and full-time working moms did. But, full-time working moms didn’t have it so bad -- there wasn’t a big difference between their health and depression than those of part-time working moms.

The study included moms from 10 locations across the U.S. -- 24% were of an ethnic minority, 1% did not have a high school diploma, 14% were single parents and 25% worked part-time. Researchers believe that more analysis is needed of other factors like professional status and how flexible their work environments were.

Do you think working moms are more fulfilled than stay-at-home moms? Are you a working mom or do you plan to work after baby?

Plus, more from The Bump:

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Multitasking May Make Your Miserable

Working Mom Guilt

-- Sarah Yang

See More: Mommy Life , Parenting Styles