Work is good for your health?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Work is good for your health?
1599
Mon, 05-15-2006 - 5:25am

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=43421
Working Mothers Healthier Than Full-time Housewives

Main Category: Women's Health / OBGYN News
Article Date: 15 May 2006 - 1:00am (PDT)

According to new research carried out in Britain, working mothers enjoy better health than full-time housewives. Despite the stress working mothers face by holding down a job, dealing with childcare, housework and striving to keep the family happy.

It appears that working mothers, when compared to full-time housewives, are less likely to become overweight, have a better level of health and a healthier relationship. The study also found that single mothers experience worse health than working mothers who have a partner and children.

You can read about this study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Team leader, Dr. Anne McMunn, University College London, said that women who combine work with children and marriage do seem to have better health than full-time housewives. Even though they may experience high levels of stress sometimes.

It is not a question of chicken-and-egg either. Dr. McMunn said it is the experience of work plus having a family that brings on the better health, not the fact that only healthier mothers decide to carry on working.

The researchers examined data on women born in 1946 from the Medical Research Council's National Study of Health and Development. The data registers their health from 1946 until they are 54. Women's health was examined, with the help of a questionnaire at the ages of 26 through to 54. Every decade, the questionnaire collects data on each woman's work history, whether she is/was married, has children, her height and weight.

The healthiest women were the ones who had all three of the following:

-- A Partner
-- Children
-- A job

Those reporting the worst health were stay-at-home mothers, followed by childless women and single mothers.

38% of stay-at-home mothers were obese when they reached their 50s, for working mothers the percentage was 23%.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:01pm
I never said that, and in fact I do not support it as a solution in the US. I do, however, strongly support health care access for all.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:02pm
why should they have a job that provides insurance long before then. when i was a full time student i had different jobs but none of them provided health insurance. which explains why i could stay on my parents policy as long as i was a full time student.
Jennie
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:03pm
Cold War and its leftovers.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:03pm

No, because I can recognize (and did in her posts)

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:05pm
To go out and get a job and support yourself is living in a rosy, little bubble?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:05pm
It means that one would expect better reasoning ability from someone with six years of higher education.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:06pm

...and your point would be what?

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:07pm
No of course he would not be a threat to me, unless he managed to take over the whole country.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:07pm
hey, we have homes for sale in our subdivision, i seriously doubt he would move in and try to take over the town, but come on in. as to baby sitting, i have to know a person pretty well before i leave my kids with them so i really cant address that one.
Jennie
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2000
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:07pm

I can tell you. It's because our combined take home income won't support a $300+ deduction in our paychecks. And only from dh's employer. So we only have healthcare for dh through his employer. My employer doesn't offer healthcare. They can't and stay in business. So no healthcare for me until I hit 65, assuming that Medicare is still viable. Angela just now signed up for healthcare with her employer. We have state(CA)-supported healthcare for Dylan but it only goes to age 16.

Chris

The truth may be out there but lies are in your head. Terry Pratchett

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