Working mothers are disproportionately bearing the burden of poor physical and mental health outcomes, on top of economic burdens amplified by parenthood. But this isn’t just an individual issue. What impacts the mother has negative ripple effects for children, families, employers, and our nation as a whole.
In recent years, this burden has increased, along with women’s likelihood of dying after childbirth. The infographic below highlights the gravity of these burdens and the national toll this stress on working mothers creates.
- Working mothers are plagued by depression, anxiety, and burnout at higher rates than both working fathers and coworkers without children.
- Mental health issues are the leading cause of maternal mortality, which the CDC recently identified as preventable in 84% of cases.
- Health issues are compounded by economic distress, such as the cost of childcare, which has risen 214% since 1990, while average family income has only risen 143%.
- Missed days from work due to mental distress cost the economy over $47 billion.
While these problems are not new, our latest health care report unveils new pathways to improve women’s health while also improving outcomes for children, families, employers, and the nation.
