Einzelbeitrag: Association between maternal employment status and the mother's mental and somatic health

As various investigations revealed, maternal employment and health status can be positively or negatively associated (respectively in line with the enhancement or scarcity hypothesis), raising the question of why that is the case. This systematic review and meta-analysis ascertains and evaluates the current state of knowledge concerning the relation of both variables of interest and investigates which factors moderate this association.

Observational studies assessing the association between maternal employment status and the mothers' mental health (especially anxiety and depression) as well as somatic health within the first six years after delivery were systematically identified searching three databases. Screening for eligibility was independently done by two researchers. Relevant data of each included study were extracted using a standardised extraction form. When possible, effect sizes were computed.

Included studies mainly suggested that employed mothers of children up to five years of age were healthier than their unemployed counterparts. Variables such as amount of working hours or child age moderate this association.

When investigating the association between maternal employment and health status and taking into account confounding variables more studies seem to lend support to the enhancement hypothesis. Because most studies were performed outside of Europe it remains unclear if results can be transferred to the current German situation. Also, longitudinal studies are needed to allow for causal conclusions.