2023/03/30 by Bode, Annika, Dorin, Lena, Metzing, Sabine +1
#Gesundheit #Lebenslagen #Literaturreview #Medicine and health #Mütter #Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Familie #managing work and family #maternal health #return to work #review literature #women's health
paper · doi:10.3205/zhwi000025
Background: The subjective physical and mental health of mothers who have finished their parental leave and are reconciling work and family life is exposed to multidimensional influences. These factors have not yet been systematically investigated in the national context of Germany. Objectives: The overall aim of this literature review is to depict the health of mothers while they are combining work and family, taking the influencing factors into account. Methods: Between September 2016 and December 2018, we conducted a systematic international literature analysis in the databases Medline via Pubmed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and GESIS (Sowiport) for the years 2007 to 2018 based on a scoping review. Results: A total of 86 studies were included. Positive effects on the health of mothers arise when a work situation is personally desired and the professional role is considered positive, fulfilling and compatible with family life. The point in time at which a mother returns to work, the hours worked and the level of income seem to be very individual. A key factor is the individual’s overall positive appraisal of their present life situation. Well-being increases if the demands are met with the resources available. Conclusions: The relevance for maternal health of the hours worked, the time point of the return to work and the control experienced in everyday work and family life depend on the overall context and national system-specific circumstances. So far, there has been insufficient research on the consequences of individual living situations for the health of mothers in Germany. For this reason, further research on how the specific interaction between gainful employment and the family impacts the health of mothers in Germany and on the political measures related to this research have the potential to sustainably strengthen the health of women and families.