title: The role of social support in facilitating postpartum women's return to employment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  More than half of mothers with infants under 1 year are employed. This study explored the role of social support in facilitating women's return to employment during the 1st year postpartum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of existing longitudinal, repeated-measures questionnaire data gathered at 4 and 12 months postpartum.
  
  
  METHODS
  94 postpartum women who were married or partnered, employed, and residing in a large urban area in the northwestern United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Satisfaction with decision to return to work, role performance, work-family balance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relationships between indicators of social support and return-to-work experiences were absent to modest. Satisfaction with child care was related to satisfaction with the decision to return to work. Workplace support was related to work-family balance at 12 months postpartum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Satisfactory child care arrangements and supportive relationships in the workplace are the most significant facilitators of women's return to work postpartum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Child Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. killien@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Marcia Gruis
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Killien
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002654:Child Care / Q000592:standards; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003657:Decision Making; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015205:Northwestern United States; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D016524:Parental Leave; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology