Abstract
This study examines how desire for employment, employment status, and job quality associate with depressive symptoms among
mothers of infants and toddlers. We use the longitudinal NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD) to
estimate regression models with a variety of controls including prior depression. We find that employment in high-quality
versus low-quality jobs is associated with reductions in depressive symptoms, both for mothers who do and do not desire employment.
Furthermore, non-employed mothers have elevated depression levels only if they desire employment. Our results demonstrate
that neither employment nor non-employment is best for all mothers of young children; rather mental health depends on mothers’
employment preferences and, when they do work for pay, job quality.
mothers of infants and toddlers. We use the longitudinal NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD) to
estimate regression models with a variety of controls including prior depression. We find that employment in high-quality
versus low-quality jobs is associated with reductions in depressive symptoms, both for mothers who do and do not desire employment.
Furthermore, non-employed mothers have elevated depression levels only if they desire employment. Our results demonstrate
that neither employment nor non-employment is best for all mothers of young children; rather mental health depends on mothers’
employment preferences and, when they do work for pay, job quality.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10834-011-9260-5
- Authors
- Margaret L. Usdansky, Center for Policy Research, Syracuse University, 426 Eggers Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244-1020, USA
- Rachel A. Gordon, Department of Sociology and Institute of Government and Public Affairs, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 West Harrison St, MC 312, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Xue Wang, Department of Sociology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 West Harrison St, MC 312, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Anna Gluzman, Department of Sociology, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA
- Journal Journal of Family and Economic Issues
- Online ISSN 1573-3475
- Print ISSN 1058-0476