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- Title
Low-wage Work Conditions and Mother–Infant Interaction Quality Across the Transition to Parenthood.
- Authors
Herman, Rachel J.; Perry-Jenkins, Maureen
- Abstract
The present investigation examined the relationship between workplace conditions and mother–infant interaction quality among 65 low-wage, employed mothers. It was hypothesized that the demanding work conditions that new mothers encountered when they returned to paid employment after birth would interfere with parenting quality via increases in maternal depression and anxiety, and that positive work conditions would enhance parenting. Partial support was found for these hypotheses. Mothers who reported greater autonomy at work were less distressed and, in turn, more responsive with their babies. In contrast, workplace urgency—when predictive of increased depression and anxiety—had a deleterious effect on future parenting quality. Contrary to hypotheses, supervisor support did not moderate the negative effects of workplace demands on mothers' distress or parenting. Results indicate that the conditions of low-wage employment have a meaningful effect on mothers' mental health and capacity to engage in sensitive parenting during the transition to parenthood.
- Subjects
WORK environment; MOTHER-infant relationship; LOW-income mothers; PARENTHOOD; WORKING mothers; PARENTING; DEPRESSION in women; PARENTHOOD &; psychology; ANXIETY; AUTONOMY (Psychology); CHILDBIRTH; MENTAL depression; PSYCHOLOGICAL distress; EMPLOYMENT; EMPLOYMENT reentry; MENTAL health; PSYCHOLOGY of mothers; PROFESSIONS; SUPERVISION of employees; WAGES; PSYCHOLOGY of women employees; SOCIAL support
- Publication
Journal of Child & Family Studies, 2020, Vol 29, Issue 12, p3552
- ISSN
1062-1024
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10826-020-01809-y