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Research Perspectives on Work and the Transition to Motherhood pp 171–197Cite as

Maternal Employment and Child Health: Conceptual and Empirical Foundations for Work and Family “Weaving Strategies”

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Abstract

The goal of this chapter is to further theoretical understanding of the potential impact of maternal work on child health outcomes. We discuss limitations of role theory as a framework and utilize the concept of “weaving strategies” as family adaptive mechanisms that working women use to reconcile work and parenting demands. We present an empirical, structured interview-based study (n = 217 mothers) of maternal weaving strategies and their relationship with a host of child health outcomes. Six maternal weaving strategies were identified through factor analysis: positive reframing of work, modifying standards, time management, quick meals, selective socialization and limiting work. There was clear variability in use of alternative weaving strategies by marital status, race, household poverty status, and maternal work schedules. As expected, given the multidimensionality of child health, associations of different weaving strategies with discrete child health outcomes at different points in children’s first year of life varied.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support for this chapter was provided by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (R21 HD48601 and R01 HD061010).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University, Tulsa, USA

    Jennifer S. Freese

  2. Department of Family and Child Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA

    Amy M. Smith & Joseph G. Grzywacz

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Correspondence to Joseph G. Grzywacz .

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA

    Christiane Spitzmueller

  2. Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University Department of Psychology, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA

    Russell A. Matthews

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Freese, J.S., Smith, A.M., Grzywacz, J.G. (2016). Maternal Employment and Child Health: Conceptual and Empirical Foundations for Work and Family “Weaving Strategies”. In: Spitzmueller, C., Matthews, R. (eds) Research Perspectives on Work and the Transition to Motherhood. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41121-7_9

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