‘Supermum’ attitude may lead to depression

August 22, 2011
Holly Enriquez
nimemsn.com.au

Working mums who buy into the 'supermum' myth may put them at greater risk of depression, a new US study has found.

The University of Washington study found that while working mums have lower rates of depression than their stay-at-home counterparts, those who believed that their work and home lives could be blended seamlessly were at a greater risk of becoming depressed.

"You can happily combine child rearing and a career, if you're willing to let some things slide," said Katrina Leupp, a University of Washington sociology graduate student who led the study.

Leupp said that women have to make sacrifices in order to juggle home and parenting responsibilities, such as cutting back on work hours and getting their husbands to help more.

The study found that women who had the 'supermum' attitude — who thought they could do it all without making sacrifices — feel like they are failing when they struggle to achieve this ideal.

Leupp analysed survey responses from 1,600 US women, all 40 years old and married. The respondents, a mix of stay-at-home mums and working mothers, were participating in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth.

Leupp said the findings suggest that remaining in the work force after becoming a parent was important for mental health, but that women had to have a realistic approach.

"Employment is still ultimately good for women's health," Leupp said. "But for better mental health, working mums should accept that they can't do it all."

This article can be found on the ninemsn.com.au website at http://motherandbaby.ninemsn.com.au/family/familytime/8288450/supermum-attitude-may-lead-to-depression