The role of social support in facilitating postpartum women's return to employment.
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.
Killien
Marcia Gruis
MG
Department of Family and Child Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. killien@u.washington.edu
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