Institutional Support for the Career Advancement of Women Faculty in Science and Academic Medicine: Successes, Challenges, and Future Directions.

Institutional support is crucial for the successful career advancement of all faculty but in particular those who are women. Evolving from the past, in which gender disparities were prevalent in many institutions, recent decades have witnessed significant progress in supporting the career advancement of women faculty in science and academic medicine. However, continued advancement is necessary as previously unrecognized needs and new opportunities for improvement emerge. To identify the needs, opportunities, and potential challenges encountered by women faculty, the Women's Leadership Committee of the Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Council developed an initiative termed GROWTH (Generating Resources and Opportunities for Women in Technology and Health). The committee designed a survey questionnaire and interviewed 19 leaders with roles and responsibilities in faculty development from a total of 12 institutions across various regions of the United States. The results were compiled, analyzed, and discussed. Based on our interviews and analyses, we present the current status of these representative institutions in supporting faculty development, highlighting efforts specific to women faculty. Through the experiences, insights, and vision of these leaders, we identified success stories, challenges, and future priorities. Our article provides a primer and a snapshot of institutional efforts to support the advancement of women faculty. Importantly, this article can serve as a reference and resource for academic entities seeking ideas to gauge their commitment level to women faculty and to implement new initiatives. Additionally, this article can provide guidance and strategies for women faculty as they seek support and resources from their current or prospective institutions when pursuing new career opportunities.

Breastfeeding among women employed in Mexico's informal sector: strategies to overcome key barriers.

BACKGROUND: Rates of exclusive breastfeeding fall below recommended levels, particularly among women in paid employment. In Mexico, more than half of women are in informal employment, meaning they lack many of the protections that may support breastfeeding. METHODS: In-depth interviews with 15 key informants representing government agencies (n = 6 organizations), NGOs (n = 4), international organizations (n = 2), and academia (n = 2) in Mexico. Interviews were conducted between March and June 2023. To understand and describe barriers to breastfeeding among informally employed women in Mexico according to key informants and the current and potential policies to address these barriers, we conducted a qualitative thematic analysis. RESULTS: Current policies to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding predominantly apply to all employed women, but respondents expressed concern that they did not provide adequate protection for women in informal employment. Additional themes concerned the need for relevant programs to be institutionalized and coordinated, discussions of breastfeeding as a right, and the legal equivalence (whether true in practice or not) of formal and informal workers. CONCLUSIONS: Women employed in Mexico's informal sector face a dearth of maternity protections. According to key informants, few policies exist to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding among employed women, in general, but the economic vulnerability and challenging working conditions of women in informal employment exacerbates their situation. The lack of access to formal labor protections, such as paid maternity leave, creates a significant barrier to breastfeeding for women in the informal sector. Recommendations include short-term policies to fill gaps in social protection for informally employed women, as well as longer-term solutions such as the development of universal social protection programs and supporting formalization.

Impact of parental leave system on the childbirth plan among working married women: a three-year follow-up study of the Korean longitudinal survey of women and families.

BACKGROUND: The Korean government seeks to balance work and family and alleviate low fertility by implementing a parental leave system. This study aimed to identify the impact of the parental leave system on childbirth among married working women in South Korea. METHODS: This study used three-year follow-up data from the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families (2016, 2018, and 2020). The number of participants was 324 at baseline. Logistic regressions using a generalized estimating equation model were performed to examine the impact of parental leave on childbirth. Sub-analyses of covariates, childbirth support, and parental leave systems were conducted. RESULTS: Of workers covered by the parental leave system, 31.7% considered childbirth. Women covered by parental leave were 3.63 times more likely to plan childbirth (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-9.99). The tendency to plan childbirth was pronounced among those in their early 30s (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 7.20) and those who thought that having children was necessary (AOR, 4.30). Child planning was more influenced by leave support (AOR, 6.61) than subsidies. CONCLUSIONS: Parental leave systems can have a positive impact on working married women's childbirth plans. Although this system was effective in a group interested in childbirth, it did not create a fundamental child plan. Time support is more important than money concerning childbirth plans. The parental leave system had an impact on childbirth plan. Appropriate parenting policies can effectively increase the fertility rate.

Etiology, consequences, and solutions of working women's work-life conflict: a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: Work-life conflict (WLC) is important in organizational behavior research and human resource management. The present research aimed to investigate the underlying causes, consequences, and solutions to WLC in Iranian working women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present qualitative study was conducted through a content analysis method among 19 working married women in Birjand, a city in the east of Iran, from December 2021 to February 2022. To collect the data, semi-structured interviews were held. The average interview time was 45 minutes, and all interviews were recorded upon the participants' consent. Finally, after coding, the information was analyzed with MAXQDA software. FINDINGS: The causes of conflict included 4 main categories of individual, interpersonal, organizational, and cultural factors, with seven subcategories: the pressure of the mother's role at home, personality traits, lack of individual skills, insufficient support, work characteristics, organizational policies, and the traditional role of women in society. The consequences of conflict included 2 main categories, Decreasing quality of life and work problems with 4 subcategories: physical and mental illnesses, forgetting one's role towards others, limiting social communication, and reducing productivity. Conflict resolution methods included 3 main classes of individual-oriented, other-oriented, and organization-oriented with 8 subclasses: program-oriented, meaning-oriented, emotion-oriented, avoidance, emotional support, instrumental and work support, support work policies, and correct management views. CONCLUSION: To solve the problem of conflict, different aspects should be considered and help to solve this challenge by influencing each dimension.

Challenges, experiences, and potential supports for East and Southeast Asian mothers in the workforce: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the challenges faced by Asian working mothers with a focus on re-entry to the workplace. In addition, we highlight potential supports that retain women in the workforce. DESIGN: A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations and registered with PROSPERO database (CRD42022341130). METHODS: Three independent reviewers were involved in the study selection to screen the search results sequentially by title, abstract, and full text using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The methodological quality of each article was assessed via the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool. RESULTS: We analysed a total of 36 studies conducted across different regions: 30 from the East and 6 from Southeast Asia. Among these studies, 20 were quantitative in nature, 15 were qualitative, and one intervention. The 36 studies cover five themes: 1) policies, 2) external support sources, 3) external pressure, 4) breastfeeding and 5) health status. Within each theme the same factor can have a positive or negative impact on the mother depending on her having a pro-career or pro-family mindset. Companies can take various initiatives to support working mothers, such as providing facilities for expressing breast milk at the workplace, educating staff to promote breastfeeding and accommodate childcare needs, and extending maternity leaves. However, there is a lack of literature that directly addresses the barriers and concrete support available to working mothers in Asia, beyond the scope of breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underscore several obstacles that can impede a woman's seamless return to work. Pro-family and pro-career mothers have differing needs that cannot be addressed at the same time. There is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding effective strategies or interventions that can support a positive reintegration into the workforce.

Exploring drivers of women's well-being in hospitals: mapping the landscape.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The workplace plays a key role in impacting the health and well-being of employees at various levels, including physical, psychological, and social aspects of health. This study aims to identify the drivers of a healthy environment that promotes the well-being of women employed in hospitals. MATERIALS & METHODS: This qualitative study used purposive sampling to recruit a total of 48 working women across a diverse range of participants with different job categories and socio-demographic statuses. These include clinical health (e.g., nurse, head nurse, practical nurse, supervisor, physicians); allied health (e.g., diagnostic services); public health (e.g., health promotion specialists); and administrative (e.g., hospital managers). Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using content analysis by creating codes, sub-themes, and themes. RESULTS: Content analysis resulted in 31 key codes, that generated 12 sub-themes and 4 key themes. These include Advancing women's health through collaborative leadership; a Psychologically safe environment for women; Thriving for positive social connections; and Advancing holistic health for women. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Hospital managers and leaders play a pivotal role in creating supportive workplaces for women. They can significantly assist in prioritizing their psychological and social health through personalized approaches tailored to women's needs, positioning them as co-designers of their health and well-being.

Factors influencing menstrual regularity among female workers: a cross-sectional analysis study.

BACKGROUND: Regularity of menstrual cycles is an important indicator of women's health and fertility, and female workers are exposed to several factors, such as sleep disorders, stress, and shift work, that affect their menstrual regularity. This makes it necessary to comprehensively identify the determinants of menstrual regularity. Therefore, this study identified the factors affecting menstrual regularity among female workers from physiological, psychological, and situational dimensions based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of the 2010-2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and utilized the data of 2418 female workers. Based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms, physiological factors included age, age at menarche, childbirth experience, body mass index, and sleep duration. Psychological factors included stress level, depressive mood, and suicidal ideation. Situational factors included education level, household income, consumption of alcohol, engagement in smoking, and work schedule. The χ²-test and hierarchical logistic regression analysis were performed, reflecting the complex sample design. RESULTS: Age at menarche, childbirth experience, and body mass index among physiological factors and education level and work schedule among situational factors were found to be related to menstrual regularity. A higher risk of menstrual irregularities was found among those who had given birth (versus those who had not), had a high age at menarche (versus those with a low age at menarche), were obese (versus those who had a normal body mass index), had elementary school-level or lesser educational achievements (versus those with college graduate-level or higher educational achievements), and who had a shift work schedule (versus those with a fixed schedule). CONCLUSIONS: Intervention is needed for female workers who have these risk factors, and special attention must be paid to female workers who have a shift work schedule. Additionally, since body mass index can be controlled, intervention concerning body mass index is necessary to reduce menstrual irregularity.

Women Surgeons: Barriers and Solutions.

BACKGROUND: Underrepresentation and undertreatment of women in surgery continues to be highly prevalent, with major barriers to improvement. The aim of the study was to review the current state of women surgeons in Poland. METHODS: Information from the various Polish databases on women surgeons in 9 medical universities in general, oncological, vascular, thoracic, and cardiac surgery was retrospectively evaluated. Demographics of residents and staff surgeons, academic ranks and leadership positions at universities, in surgical societies and on scientific journals editorial boards were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS: In 2020, 61% of 3,668 graduates of Polish medical universities were women. In 5 surgical specialties, 11.9% (1,243 of 10,411) of the surgeons were women, with the lowest numbers in cardiac (5.6%), and in vascular surgery (6.4%); 40.4% of general surgery residents were women, less in vascular (18.4%) and thoracic surgery (24%), more in oncological surgery (28.7%). In 35 surgical departments of 9 universities, all department chairs were men, all full professors were men; 7% of associate professors and 16% of assistant professors were women. Rectors of all universities were men; 27% of the vice-rectors were women. In the senates and university councils, 39% and 35%, respectively, were women. Presidents, vice presidents, and secretaries of surgical societies and Editor-in-Chief of 4 surgical journals were all men. CONCLUSIONS: Polish women surgeons face major difficulties with representation in surgery, in departmental, institutional, and societal leadership, and on scientific journal editorial boards. A multifaceted approach to correct these serious inequalities is urgently needed.

Unleashing the potential of metaphors: a categorization system for exploring return to work after maternity.

PURPOSE: Return to work after maternity leave represents a radical change in women's lives. This paper aims to present a new metaphor categorization system based on two studies, which could assist working mothers in expressing the nuances of their experience when returning to work after maternity leave. METHODS: We carried out the analysis of the metaphors according to the method for thematic analysis, through a multistep, iterative coding process. To ensure the researchers encode the data similarly, inter-coder reliability was achieved through the judges' agreement method. The level of agreement between the two judges was measured by Cohen's kappa. RESULTS: In Study 1, we established a system comprising ten metaphor categories (namely, Natural event and/or element, Challenge and destination, Movement and/or action, Fresh start, Fight, Game and hobby, Animal, Alternate reality, Means of transport, Hostile place). In Study 2, we recognized the same metaphor categories observed in Study 1, except "Means of transport", even with data sourced from a distinct participant group, an indicator of credibility in terms of inter-coder reliability. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the usefulness of this new metaphor categorization system (named Meta4Moms@Work-Metaphors system for Moms back to Work) to facilitate a more straightforward elicitation of the meanings employed by working mothers to depict their return to work after maternity leave. Leveraging these insights, researchers/practitioners can develop and execute primary and secondary interventions aimed to enhance working mothers' work-life balance, well-being, and mental health.

A qualitative perspective of working women care providers and care receivers on eldercare: a study from India.

BACKGROUND: The paper aims to explore the elderly caregiving process in India from the perspective of both elderly as well as working women care providers, along with the challenges faced and the coping strategies adopted by them during the process. METHODS: In-depth interviews with 48 participants (care providers and care receivers) from 25 multi-generational households were conducted in the slums of Mumbai and analysed using QSR-NVivo-10. RESULTS: Working women care providers supported the needs of the dependent elderly along with performing household chores and paid work. However, the way the care was perceived and demanded, was not often same as delivered by the care providers. Care provider suffered silently with poor social, physical and emotional welling in absence of support system and lack of time. Sometimes, physically exhausted care providers unknowingly resorted to elderly abuse and neglect. At the same time, a bidirectional flow of support from elderly also existed in the form of childcare, household chores and financial support. Though caregiving overstrained the care providers, strong family ties, acknowledgement of the contributions of the elderly during their young days, and the desire to set a precedent for the young generation did not let them step back from their duties. The main coping mechanism for both care receivers and providers was largely centred around the notion of acceptance of their situation. CONCLUSION: Conversations between generations can help in enhancing family ties and reduce conflicts. The support of family and community can also ease the burden of caregiving.

Exclusive breastfeeding among Indonesian working mothers: does early initiation of breastfeeding matter?

BACKGROUND: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) is a starting point that lays the foundation for breastfeeding and bonding between mother and baby. Meanwhile, working mothers are one of the vulnerable groups for the success of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). The study analyzed the role of EIBF on EBF among Indonesian working mothers. METHODS: The cross-sectional study examined secondary data from the 2021 Indonesian National Nutritional Status Survey. The study analyzed 4,003 respondents. We examined EBF practice as an outcome variable and EIBF as an exposure variable. We included nine control variables (residence, maternal age, marital, education, prenatal classes, wealth, infant age, sex, and birth weight). All variables were assessed by questionnaire. The study employed a binary logistic regression test in the last stage. RESULTS: The result showed that the proportion of EBF among working mothers in Indonesia in 2021 was 51.9%. Based on EIBF, Indonesian working mothers with EIBF were 2.053 times more likely than those without to perform EBF (p < 0.001; AOR 2.053; 95% CI 2.028-2.077). Moreover, the study also found control variables related to EBF in Indonesia: residence, maternal age, marital, education, prenatal classes, wealth, infant age, sex, and birth weight. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that EIBF was related to EBF. Indonesian working mothers with EIBF were two times more likely than those without to perform EBF. The government needs to release policies that strengthen the occurrence of EIBF in working mothers to increase EBF coverage.

Association Between Economic Activity and Depressive Symptoms Among Women With Parenting Children.

BACKGROUND: Balancing parenting and work life poses challenges for women with children, potentially making them vulnerable to depression owing to their dual responsibilities. Investigating working mothers' mental health status is important on both the individual and societal levels. This study aimed to explore the relationship between economic activity participation and depressive symptoms among working mothers. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study and used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey collected in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020. The participants in the study were women aged 19 to 50 who were residing with their children. In the total, 3,151 participants were used in the analysis. The independent variable was economic activity, categorized into two groups: 1) economically active and 2) economically inactive. The dependent variable was the depressive symptoms, categorized as present for a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score of ≥ 10 and absent for a score < 10. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between economic activity and depressive symptoms, and sensitivity analyses were performed based on the severity of depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Among women with children, economically active women had reduced odds ratio of depressive symptoms compared with economically inactive women (odds ratio [OR], 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36-0.80). In additional analysis, women working as wage earners had the lowest odds of depressive symptoms (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.28-0.66). Women working an average of 40 hours or less per week were least likely to have depressive symptoms (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.25-0.69). CONCLUSION: Economic activity is significantly associated with depressive symptoms among women with children. Environmental support and policy approaches are needed to ensure that women remain economically active after childbirth.

Association of human capital development and women's employment in China, 1990-2020: An empirical assessment.

This study was designed to assess the connection between human capital development and the employment of women in China from 1990 to 2020. Data was collected from the World Development Indicators, after which it was subjected to Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares and Granger causality econometric analysis. The results from the study showed that human capital development and women employment had a negative but insignificant relationship. Similarly, a unidirectional relationship existed between female employment and government capital expenditure in China, while a bidirectional association ran between women employment and government expenditure on education in the country. Therefore, it is concluded that human capital development and government expenditure on education are the strong motivating factors that drive GDP growth rate and women employment in China. Consequently, we recommend that policymakers in China should consider massive investment in human capital development in order to enhance women employment in the country. Additionally, policymakers should embark on policies and programmes that foster the expansion of China`s GDP growth rate as a measure to increase employment opportunities for women.

Cette étude a été conçue pour évaluer le lien entre le développement du capital humain et l'emploi des femmes en Chine de 1990 à 2020. Les données ont été collectées à partir des indicateurs de développement mondial, après quoi elles ont été soumises à une analyse économétrique des moindres carrés ordinaires dynamiques et de la causalité de Granger. Les résultats de l'étude ont montré que le développement du capital humain et l'emploi des femmes entretenaient une relation négative mais insignifiante. De même, il existait une relation unidirectionnelle entre l'emploi des femmes et les dépenses publiques en capital en Chine, tandis qu'une association bidirectionnelle existait entre l'emploi des femmes et les dépenses publiques d'éducation dans le pays. Par conséquent, nous concluons que le développement du capital humain et les dépenses publiques consacrées à l'éducation sont les principaux facteurs de motivation qui déterminent le taux de croissance du PIB et l'emploi des femmes en Chine. Par conséquent, nous recommandons aux décideurs politiques chinois d'envisager des investissements massifs dans le développement du capital humain afin d'améliorer l'emploi des femmes dans le pays. En outre, les décideurs politiques devraient se lancer dans des politiques et des programmes qui favorisent l'expansion du taux de croissance du PIB chinois afin d'augmenter les opportunités d'emploi pour les femmes.

Current Use and Discrepancies in the Adoption of Health-Related Internet of Things and Apps Among Working Women in Japan: Large-Scale, Internet-Based, Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: Demographic changes and a low birth rate have led to a workforce shortage in Japan. To address this issue, the government has promoted engagement of female employment. However, increased female employment can impact women's health. Using Internet of Things (IoT) and apps to manage women's health has gained attention, but few studies have focused on working women. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the current situation of working women and their use of IoT or apps to manage their health. METHODS: A large-scale, nationwide internet survey was conducted among 10,000 female participants aged from 20 years to 64 years in Japan. Participants were recruited from a marketing research company's active survey panel of 5.24 million members. The survey included questions about health status, sociodemographic factors, psychological characteristics, and the use of IoT or apps for health management. We compared perceived health status and reasons for current IoT use using t tests and assessed participant characteristics that predicted IoT use using the C5.0 decision tree algorithm. Ethical approval was granted by St. Luke's International University. RESULTS: Among participants, 14.6% (1455/10,000) currently used IoT or apps, 7% (695/10,000) used them previously, and 78.5% (7850/10,000) had never used them. Current users (42.7 years old) were older than past users (39.7 years old). Discrepancies were observed between participants' perceived health problems and the purpose for using IoT or apps, with 21.3% (2130/10,000) of all women reporting they experienced menstrual symptoms or disorders but only 3.5% (347/10,000) used IoT or apps to manage the same symptom. On the other hand, current users were more likely to use IoT or apps to manage nutrition-related problems such as underweight or obesity (405/1455, 27.8%). Device use was highest among current users, with 87.3% (1270/1455) using smartphones, 19.7% (287/1455) using smartwatches, and 13.3% (194/1455) using PCs. Decision tree analysis identified 6 clusters, the largest consisting of 81.6% (5323/6523) of non-IoT users who did not exercise regularly, while pregnant women were more likely to use IoT or apps. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the idea that woman with particular health problems (ie, menstrual symptoms or disorders and premenstrual syndrome) have lower use of IoT or apps, suggesting an unmet need for IoT and apps in specific areas.

Relationship between sleep quality and marital satisfaction of working women during the premenopausal period.

Sleep disorders can adversely affect physical, sexual, and marital health, particularly among middle-aged women. This study aimed to determine the relationship between sleep quality and marital satisfaction of working women during the premenopausal period. In this cross-sectional study, we selected 150 women working at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran was selected using random cluster sampling. A demographic information form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Evaluation and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication, and Happiness (ENRICH) marital satisfaction scale were used for data collection. The Data were analyzed using SPSS.22 software at a significance level of P < 0.05. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to predict sleep quality based on marital satisfaction. Our results showed that 79 (52.7%) of the participants had undesirable sleep quality, 87 (58%) had high marital satisfaction, and 32 (21.3%) had very high marital satisfaction. Regression analysis revealed that the total marital satisfaction score could not predict the sleep quality score of the participants. However, as dimensions of marital satisfaction, personality issues negatively (ß = 0.327, P < 0.05) and ideological orientation positively (ß = 0.336, P < 0.01) predicted the sleep quality score. Based on the prediction of the sleep quality score by personality issues and ideological orientations among the dimensions of marital satisfaction, it seems that life skills training, especially in these two dimensions, may improve the quality of sleep and, as a result, the physical and mental health of working women.

Relationships between work-family conflict and family structure in the lives of working mothers in Hungary - a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The family, as the basic socialization environment, is a complex dynamic system that - as a whole and through its subsystems - is in relationships with other social systems (Bagdy in Family socialization and personality disorders. Nemzeti Tankönyvkiadó, Budapest, 2002; Lakatos et al. in Mentálhigiéné és Pszichoszomatika 21(1):56-85, 2020). The system with which the family system has long-term relationships is the work system/environment. Creating and maintaining a work-life balance has become a central issue in our societies, as they are two of the most organising forces, and reconciling them is a very difficult task due to the demands and expectations coming from both directions, often simultaneously (Makra et al. in Magyar Pszichológiai Szemle 67(3):491-518, 2012). This kind of "double burden" primarily affects women, but their increasing role in the labour market is not necessarily followed by an equal sharing of work within family life (Engler et al. in Work-life balance in women's careers. In: Tardos K, Paksi V, Fábri Gy (eds) Scientific careers in the early 21st century. Belvedere Meridionale, Szeged, pp 114-126, 2021). We hypothesise that involvement in work negatively correlates with work-life balance, making it more difficult to integrate into the family. It was expected that the relationship between the number of children and mothers' professional involvement would be negative. A positive correlation was expected between the age of the youngest child and the mothers' work involvement. On the other hand, a family united by cohesion and resilience leads to higher job satisfaction. METHODS: For the present analysis, we analysed the relationships between work-family conflict and family structure in working mothers with children in a sample of 273 participants. The self-reported questionnaire included demographic data and 2 standard questionnaires: the Work-Family Conflict Questionnaire and the Olson-Family Test (FACES-IV.). The study was conducted in Hungary. RESULTS: No significant relationship was found between work involvement and work-family conflict. A negative relationship was observed between work involvement and family involvement. Similiarily, no significant relationship was found between the number of children, the age of the youngest child and work involvement, contrary to expectations. The findings indicate a positive relationship between good family cohesion, flexibility and job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Striking a work-family balance is a challenging process for families with young children, especially working mothers. A mutually negative relationship between work and family involvement has been shown. The importance of a well-functioning family, with adequate cohesion and flexibility, is reflected in family and job satisfaction. The relationship between work-to-family conflict and job involvement is moderated significantly only when family flexibility is low. The results from the present pilot study indicate important relationships between variables and point to further research directions worth investigating in a larger sample in the future.

Postpartum depression and risk factors among working women one year after delivery in Beijing, China: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common mental illness affecting women after childbirth, and working mothers may be faced with unique challenges. This study aimed to examine the depression status among working postpartum women in 1 year of childbirth and explore the relationship between occupational factors and PPD in urban Beijing, China. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 554 postpartum women was conducted among ten community health service centers in six urban districts of Beijing, China. Sociodemographic, occupational, childbirth and postpartum information were collected. Depression status was obtained using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) was assessed in relation to occupational characteristics, and influencing factors were analyzed through logistic regression. Results: Of the postpartum women, 29.42% met the criteria for depression. PPD prevalence was significantly higher among women employed in commercial enterprises (39.81%). The analysis of influencing factors showed that age, family or personal monthly income, maternity leave, feeding methods, and postpartum care affected the psychological health of occupational women after childbirth. Conclusion: PPD prevalence is notably elevated among women employed in commercial enterprises, and specific risk factors contribute to its occurrence. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address these risk factors and prevent PPD in this population.

Breastfeeding in US working mothers: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrate that exclusive breastfeeding has positive long-term health effects on the mother and infant, but research has shown that nearly 50% of mothers do not breastfeed for the recommended amount of time. OBJECTIVE: This article systematizes previous quantitative research on the impact of work on breastfeeding practices to identify the factors that correlate to the cessation of breastfeeding in working mothers. METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statements, we performed a systematic review that screened PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Academic Search Complete databases for articles relating to maternal employment and breastfeeding. RESULTS: Of the 13,106 articles assessed for eligibility, 21 studies met all requirements and were included in this systematic review. The 21 articles were divided into study type and methods, participant demographics, study outcomes, and additional factors that included stressors and stress levels, factors that increased or decreased rates of breastfeeding, and feeding methods. Articles outside of the United States were excluded due to differences in maternity leave policies of other countries impacting the data. CONCLUSION: Cessation of breastfeeding and breastfeeding outcomes were seen to have a strong association with maternal employment, specifically with the policies and employer support in the workplace. Other factors such as race, level of education, and stress were also shown to relate to breastfeeding outcomes and are important to consider in future public health interventions and workplace policies.

Extended Paid Maternity Leave Associated With Improved Maternal Mental Health In Hong Kong.

In July 2020, Hong Kong extended statutory paid maternity leave from ten weeks to fourteen weeks to align with International Labour Organization standards. We used the policy enactment as an observational natural experiment to assess the mental health implications of this policy change on probable postnatal depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scores of 10 or higher) and postpartum emotional well-being. Using an opportunistic observational study design, we recruited 1,414 survey respondents with births before (August 1-December 10, 2020) and after (December 11, 2020-July 18, 2022) policy implementation. Participants had a mean age of thirty-two, were majority primiparous, and were mostly working in skilled occupations. Our results show that the policy was associated with a 22 percent decrease in mothers experiencing postnatal depressive symptoms and a 33 percent decrease in postpartum emotional well-being interference. Even this modest change in policy, an additional four weeks of paid leave, was associated with significant mental health benefits. Policy makers should consider extending paid maternity leave to international norms to improve mental health among working mothers and to support workforce retention.