title: Health Resources and Strategies among Employed Women in Norway during Pregnancy and Early Motherhood.
abstract: The number of women in paid employment is increasing. However, when becoming a mother for the first time, many seem unprepared for the challenge of balancing motherhood and work as well as for the impact on their health. The aim of this study was to investigate the health resources and strategies of employed women in Norway during pregnancy and early motherhood by means of salutogenic theory. A hypothetical-deductive interpretive approach based on Antonovsky's salutogenic theory was applied in a secondary analysis. A total of six themes were identified; three were classified as health resources when experiencing tension and three as health strategies. Salutogenic theory seems to be a useful framework for illuminating the health resources and strategies adopted by employed women who become mothers. The identified health resources when experiencing tension and the health strategies applied may have implications for maternity care professionals and employers in promoting the health of such women and supporting them to combine work and family life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alstveit
authors.affiliation: Centre for Women's, Family and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Buskerud & Vestfold University College, P.O. Box 235, 3603 Kongsberg, Norway.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9900-7170
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Severinsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Bjørg
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karlsen