Wernecke Deborah, Peter Raphael S, Braig Stefanie, Genuneit Jon, Rothenbacher Dietrich
Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
German Center for Child and Adolescent Health (DZKJ), Partner Site Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Front Psychol. 2025 Aug 20;16:1580373. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1580373. eCollection 2025.
To assess potential associations between maternal employment after childbirth with subsequent child mental health problems.
We analyzed 536 families of a prospective birth cohort to estimate trajectory classes of maternal employment 0-36 months postpartum. Multivariable linear regression models were employed to examine associations between (1) trajectory classes and (2) maternal employment status at 12 months postpartum with child mental health problems at 4, 5, and 6 years of age.
We identified five different trajectory classes of maternal employment after childbirth. For boys, trajectory classes 2 and 3 (characterized by relatively high maternal working hours/week) were associated with more mental health problems at ages 5 and 6 compared to class 1 (relatively low or no working hours/week). No associations were found for classes 4 (part-time after 2 years) and 5 (increasing and subsequently decreasing working hours/week) among boys. For girls, class 5 was associated with less mental health problems at ages 5, and 6 compared to class 1. Analysis of maternal employment status at 12 months postpartum showed less mental health problems for part-time employment at 12 months postpartum compared to no-employment among boys.
Mixed results were found for maternal employment after childbirth and boys' mental health depending on the measure used. No detrimental associations were found for girls.
评估产后母亲就业与儿童随后出现心理健康问题之间的潜在关联。
我们分析了一个前瞻性出生队列中的536个家庭，以估计产后0至36个月母亲就业的轨迹类别。采用多变量线性回归模型来检验（1）轨迹类别与（2）产后12个月母亲就业状况与儿童在4岁、5岁和6岁时心理健康问题之间的关联。
我们确定了产后母亲就业的五种不同轨迹类别。对于男孩，与第1类（每周工作时间相对较少或无工作时间）相比，第2类和第3类轨迹（其特征是母亲每周工作时间相对较长）与5岁和6岁时更多的心理健康问题相关。在男孩中，未发现第4类（2年后兼职）和第5类（工作时间先增加后减少）与心理健康问题有关联。对于女孩，与第1类相比，第5类与5岁和6岁时较少的心理健康问题相关。对产后12个月母亲就业状况的分析表明，与男孩无工作相比，产后12个月兼职时心理健康问题较少。
根据所采用的衡量标准，产后母亲就业与男孩心理健康之间的结果不一。未发现与女孩有有害关联。
