Nonstandard maternal work schedules and infant mental health in impoverished families: A brief report

Joseph G Grzywacz; Esther M Leerkes; Beth A Reboussin; Cynthia K Suerken; Chris C Payne; Stephanie S Daniel

doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2016.08.003

Nonstandard maternal work schedules and infant mental health in impoverished families: A brief report

Infant Behav Dev. 2016 Nov;45(Pt A):18-21. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2016.08.003. Epub 2016 Sep 1.

Authors

Joseph G Grzywacz¹, Esther M Leerkes², Beth A Reboussin³, Cynthia K Suerken³, Chris C Payne⁴, Stephanie S Daniel⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Family & Child Science, Florida State University, United States. Electronic address: jgrzywacz@fsu.edu.
² Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, United States.
³ Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, United States.
⁴ Center for Children, Youth and Families, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, United States.
⁵ Department of Family & Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, United States.

Abstract

Guided by a bioecological model, this study examines variability in infant mental health by maternal work schedule in the context of poverty. More time in irregular work schedules, but not fixed night/evening schedules, predicts maternal depression and subsequent behavior problems in infants.

MeSH terms

Adult
Depression / psychology*
Employment / psychology*
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant Behavior / psychology*
Male
Mothers / psychology*
Poverty / psychology*

Grants and funding

R01 HD061010/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States