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: 12-10-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:57pm

Specifically, how? <<>>

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:58pm
I family making $25k a year cannot get Medicaid.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 12:59pm
So, if healthcare is that important and you lose sleep over not having any coverage, get..... another.... job to help pay for that payment every month. Why does everyone have to be forced into socialized medicine for a few?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-10-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:01pm
I would not feel threatened if he were to come here. Nor would I not go to cuba.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-10-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:02pm
Precisely.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:03pm
People who can afford a car, a house, a boat, and a regular trip to Disneyland can probably afford health insurance. Do you think that everyone who can't, doesn't manage their money well? How do you propose a regular family of 4 who brings in $40k a year should be able to afford a mortgage (or rent), utilities, food, car/gas, and health insurance?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-10-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:04pm
No, they're just not current enough.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-27-2005
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:04pm
Then no one should bother getting, for example, a PhD? Most people studying for their doctorate don't finish before the age of 28-30 and don't have the opportunity to work the ft schedule often required for employer-covered insurance.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:04pm
Then you must have nice protection in that rosy, little bubble of yours.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-2003
Wed, 06-07-2006 - 1:07pm
I don't believe so, no. Apparently you do, so you could explain how he would be.

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