PSYCHOSOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF WHETHER AND HOW MUCH NEW MOTHERS WORK - A STUDY IN THE UNITED-STATES AND ARGENTINA

In this study, psychosocial predictors of mothers' decision to work an d the number of hours worked (for working mothers) were examined in tw o contrasting cultural settings, the United States and Argentina. In t otal, 78 U.S. and 68 Argentine primiparous mothers of 5-month-old infa nts participated. In both settings, years of marriage and months that mothers worked during pregnancy predict whether mothers are employed a fter childbirth. By contrast, when the number of hours that mothers wo rked was predicted, different results were found in the two countries: Better educated women with higher status occupations work longer hour s after childbirth in the United States, whereas better educated women with higher status occupations work fewer hours in Argentina. Differe nt cultural and economic conditions in the two countries appear to med iate psychosocial determinants of women's decision to work.