MOTHER, CHILD, AND FAMILY FACTORS RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT OF - SINGLE MOTHERS WITH LBW PRESCHOOLERS

The purpose of this study was to identify maternal, child, and family factors related to the employment status and employment history of sin gle mothers of low-birth-weight (LBW) and full-term preschoolers. A sa mple of 121 female-headed, single-parent families with 3-, 4-, and 5-y ear-old LBW and full-term children was recruited through admission rec ords to three Level III neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and birt h records oi two normal newborn nurseries. Results show that the birth of an LBW infant was not related to employment status, number of hour s employed per week, or employment history for single mothers. Employe d mothers had significantly more education and more positive attitudes toward employment. Controlling for other factors, never being married , and having more children, more federal income, and less positive emp loyment attitudes were predictive of nonemployment. Both employed and nonemployed women expressed preference for employment.