title: Psychosocial employment characteristics and postpartum maternal mental health symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For new mothers returning to work, the role of the workplace psychosocial environment on maternal mental health has not been fully described.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between psychosocial employment characteristics and mothers' postpartum depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven women answered survey questions regarding employment, job demand, control, and support, and postpartum depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms soon after live birth and 6 months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Working and nonworking mothers reported similar mental health symptoms. Psychological characteristics of employment were not associated with increased odds of mental health symptoms. Increased social support provided by coworkers, supervisors, and the organization was associated with reduced odds of anxiety symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings identified lack of workplace social support as a modifiable risk factor for postpartum anxiety. Future evaluations of workplace social support interventions may be explored to improve postpartum mental health symptoms. Am. J. Ind. Med. 60:109-120, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Behavioral Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Schwab-Reese
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Marizen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Behavioral Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Sato
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashida
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peek-Asa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: employment; mental health symptoms; postpartum; psychosocial; social support