Working Mothers Less Depressed: The Benefits of Moms With Careers

Working mothers may be less depressed and enjoy better health and higher self-esteem than stay-at-home moms. For some women, being a working mom was a tough choice to make. Others, however, gain a great deal from going back to work – especially moms working from home.

Leslie Bennetts, author of The Feminine Mistake, shares so many benefits of working mothers in her book that it seems to be a mistake to be a stay-at-home mom! Bennetts' arguments are convincing – but every woman must weigh the pros and cons of being a mom with a career for herself. Factors such as financial situation, children's age, work availability, partner support, work passion and health all play a role in the decision to be working mom or stay-at-home mother.

The benefits of working moms may be colored by particular professions, interests, and values. For instance, if you're passionate about being and educated as a teacher you may reap more rewards than if you work at the local convenience store, shopping mall, or factory. Moms working from home who can set their hours and choose the type of work they do are in an ideal – and rare – situation.

Personal Benefits of Working Mothers

"As the survey of gifted women indicates, many simply feel that being a homemaker fails to utilize the full range of their capabilities," writes Bennetts. Working moms can feel like they're using all their gifts, talents, and abilities in a more useful capacity than stay-at-home moms. Intellectual stimulation, problem solving, and handling challenges increase feelings of self-esteem and self-confidence.

Working moms have their own income, which offers independence, freedom, and security. Moms with careers can make their own decisions about money and purchases; they know how their money is spent. There's a sense of satisfaction in being a working mom, as well as the economic ability to take care of oneself if the marriage should dissolve or the partner's health fails.

Family Benefits of Moms With Careers

Role modeling a successful, happy life as a working mom can benefit both boys and girls. If mom is happy and challenged in her life, she's more likely to encourage a happy and challenging life for her kids.

Marital Benefits of Working Mothers

Reducing the financial pressure on the working partner is a benefit of working moms. Single income families may have a hard time making ends meet; working moms may ease the burden.

Working moms may be more interested and involved in the "outside world", which makes them more interesting to talk to. Living a full, balanced life can lead to a happier marriage. Working moms bring a sense of equality to the marriage.

Health Benefits of Working Mothers

"Employed women are healthier than their homemaker peers, despite the pressure of added responsibilities. They have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and lower weight," writes Dr. Anna Fels in The Feminine Mistake. "Few facts are as well-documented as the good physical and emotional health of women on the job….Psychologically, working women have less depression than their domestic counterparts, and they have, astonishingly, been reported to have less anxiety."

Social Benefits of Moms With Careers

Work can be a strong support network in times of crisis. With the right employer and colleagues, working moms can lean on their coworkers when facing death, illness, or other unexpected challenges. Many friendships blossom at work and grow stronger over the years.

"In comparison with such benefits, the sacrifices required by the juggling act ultimately seem negligible to many working women," says Bennetts in The Feminine Mistake.

Every woman's situation is different, but many working moms benefit from their choices. Moms working from home or telecommuting may experience more benefits than others.

The copyright of the article Working Mothers Less Depressed in Psychology is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish Working Mothers Less Depressed in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Apr 30, 2008 12:40 AM

Hayley Nichols :

This is an interesting article. It got me thinking about why it is that working mothers could be less depressed. The role of mother certainly does involve challenges and problem-solving, but I think the trouble is Western society doesn't value motherhood as a job or vocation in and of itself. In a culture that values independence, money and consumerism above relationships and family, is it any wonder a stay-at-home mother may be more vulnerable to depression? Also, and crucially, any consideration of benefits to mothers has to be balanced with that of the effects on children of daycare - as you say, working from home is ideal, but not possible for most women. There is a large body of research pointing strongly to the fact that daycare for children under three is not advisable in terms of their long-term emotional health. See 'Affluenza' by Oliver James for a good summary of this. I enjoyed reading your article, but just wanted to point out the other side. Thanks!

Feb 16, 2009 12:33 PM

Guest :

I am a working mother, I am in the military as a matter of fact. I wanted to point out that I do not work just to have more money in my pocket. I work because my mother was a SAHM and she was miserable all of the time. She would often get in fits of depression saying she gave up everything for her kids, a good education in college and a managerial position at a factory, just so they could grow up and leave her. I knew then that I would be a working mother. I work because I am intelligent and know I have more to offer the world. I work because I am individual with ideas, creativity, and self-worth outside of my role as a mother. I will not be defined by one simple title whether that is woman or mother. I am more complex than that.

Apr 9, 2009 2:38 PM

Guest :

"Working moms may be more interested and involved in the "outside world", which makes them more interesting to talk to. Living a full, balanced life can lead to a happier marriage. Working moms bring a sense of equality to the marriage."
Are you kidding me? Seriously? As a SAHM with her master's in clinical psychology and soon to have her Ph.D., I simply can't believe the author didn't recognize how seriously biased and degrading her written words are to stay-at-home mothers! But I guess I shouldn't speak, because obviously my words are likely boring and unworldly. Please excuse the sarcasm, but maybe SAHM's have more depression because their role and work is no longer respected and accepted in our society as reflected in this article. Women are happy when they make choices that fit for them whether that be working outside the home or being a SAHM or some combination. It is a disservice we are doing future generations of young women by trying to tell them what they need to do instead of letting them making the chioce for themselves and then respecting and supporting those choices.