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
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 12:57pm
Every outlet has some slant or POV. You really should not "believe" any of them.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 12:57pm
My whole life doesn't revolve around message boards, so thanks for the info.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 12:58pm
Not the point, and it is really creepy when people bug your phone.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 1:00pm
I claim to have first-hand knowledge on every subject that comes up?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 1:01pm

Well, do you mean to say that every Long Islander says it that way?

Maybe the ones that were born here? But, then again, I know lots of 'em and none of them says it that way.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 1:03pm
I think she means that you have made clear that you do not have any firsthand knowledge of the subject at hand, and you sem to be rejecting second-hand knowledge, even when it happens to be the prevailing view of what constitutes fact. Fact and belief are not the same.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 1:04pm

Really?

PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 1:04pm

Yea, I'm going to the WH tomorrow to get briefed, so I'll let you know what I find out.

Not everyone has that priviledge.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 1:05pm
I am saying that it is a common pronunciation among Long Islanders, whatever their faith happens to be. Just as it is common for Long Island ladies to sport French manicures. That doesn't mean they all do.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2006
Tue, 05-30-2006 - 1:05pm
Well, don't do anything to raise their antennae then.

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