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Women, work and mental health: Room for improvement

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Abstract

Women's labor force participation rates have steadily risen in recent years; today, approximately 45% of all workers are women. But there are factors that aversely affect women's physical and mental health. For example, working women play multiple roles: worker, wife, mother, caretaker of the elderly. Most women work—and are stuck in—low paying jobs that are stressful and uninteresting. Microelectronic devices pose yet other stresses at the work place. Preventive actions include organizing for better jobs and working conditions; passing legislation for better care of children and the elderly; and equalizing responsibilities in family roles through social change.

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The author wishes to acknowledge, with gratitude, the considerable assistance and advice of Dr. Jean French of NIOSH, CDC, Atlanta, in the preparation of this paper.

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Akabas, S.H. Women, work and mental health: Room for improvement. J Primary Prevent 9, 130–140 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01326533

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