JUGGLING a career along with being a wife or partner and parent may help to keep women healthy. Women who have multiple roles are less likely than homemakers, single mothers or child less females to report poor health or to be obese in middle age.

 

Women who occupy multiple roles over the long term report relatively good health. It looks like women are relatively healthy as result of combining work and family life. Women who have been homemakers most of their lives are most likely to report poor health, followed by single mothers and childless women. Homemakers tend to gain weight more quickly and have the highest rate of obesity at 38 percent while women who are employees, wives mothers have the lowest. Women who combine employment with motherhood and partnership have better health. There may be potential long term health benefits to being able to participate in all areas of society.