Multiple Job Holding and Mental Health Among Low-Income Mothers

Angela Bruns , University of Michigan Population Studies Center
Natasha Pilkauskas, University of Michigan

Studies have shown considerable heterogeneity in the links between employment and mental health, finding that certain work conditions are linked with poorer mental health. One largely overlooked facet of work is multiple job holding. In this paper, we examine the link between multiple job holding and mental health among low-income mothers. We use data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (n=7,844 person-wave observations), a longitudinal cohort study, to examine the link between multiple job holding and maternal depression and life dissatisfaction. We find that multiple job holding is associated with higher probabilities of depression and life dissatisfaction. We also find that the associations are strongest for mothers who also work 45 hours or more per week, work non-standard schedules, and have lower earnings. Our study suggests that multiple job holding should be considered by researchers and mental health practitioners seeking to understand drivers of depression.

See paper

 Presented in Session 160. Perceptions of Time Use and Individual Well-being