The benefits of juggling work and family

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I was very surprised to read an article, summarizing the results of a study done on mothers juggling work and family. The full text of the article is below. In a nutshell, those of us who are working on a customer presentation while getting a toddler a bowl of cheerios are actually healthier than those who are full time homemakers.

What do you think? If you try to juggle both work and family responsibilities, do you see any physical health benefits? What about the emotional/psychological factors? This study did not include those. Do you find that the balancing act is worthwhile in the end? Or, do you do it simply because you have to pay the bills?

Here's the full text of the article:

Busy moms do better?

A research study published in 2006 found that women who juggle a career, marriage, and parenthood tend to be healthier than homemakers, single mothers, and childless women. A team of researchers analyzed self-reported health records of more than 2000 women provided first at age 26 and later at age 54. The analysis showed that homemakers were more likely to report poor health, followed by single mothers and women without children. Homemakers also reported the highest rate of obesity, while women who were mothers, wives, and employees reported the lowest.

Keep in mind, however, that large studies of population groups, known as epidemiologic research, draw large conclusions. While this study, like others of its kind, reveals a broad trend, individual women may find that their own lives contradict the statistics: many women who are able to choose not to work outside their homes report good health and do not suffer from obesity. On the other hand, women who are concerned that being employed while mothering small children may be too stressful can be encouraged by the results that show, on average, juggling the two seems to help keep women active and in good health.

This article, titled 'Your toddler: Managing work' was published on 6/22/09 as part of the Good Samaritan Hospital's weekly email publications.