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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Mira M. Grice, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street, S.E., Box 197 Mayo, Minneapolic, MN 55455, (800) 774-8636, jrinsky@asph.org

Background: Since 1970, women of childbearing age have increased their presence in the workforce. In spite of this trend, no studies to date have specifically explored the relationship between work-family conflict and maternal health after childbirth.

Methods: Employed women, 18 years of age and older, were recruited while hospitalized for childbirth (n=817; 71% response rate). Health outcomes were measured six months after childbirth using the Short Form-12 Version 2 Physical and Mental Component Summary scales. General linear models estimated the effect of work spillover to home and home spillover to work on health. Directed acyclic graphs, based on the hypothesized causal model, were used to identify potential confounders.

Results: Participants averaged 30 years old, 74% were married, 85% were white, 45% were first-time mothers, and 48% had returned to work. Medium and high levels of job spillover to home resulted in significantly lower mental health scores but had no impact on physical health. Both medium and high levels of home spillover to work revealed a dose-response relationship, resulting in significantly lower physical health scores when compared to women who reported low home spillover to work. Women who found it relatively easier to take time off from work or to adjust work hours, reported higher mental health scores.

Conclusions: Results illustrate the impact of work-family conflict on maternal health. Increasing job flexibility, including the ability to take time off and adjust work hours may ease the burden of balancing work and family and increase maternal health in the months following childbirth.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant will be able to identify work-related factors and home-related factors that were shown to impact the mental and physical health of women, six months after childbirth.

Keywords: Workplace Stressors, Maternal Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered