Purpose: More than half of mothers with infants under 1 year are employed. This study explored the role of social support in facilitating women's return to employment during the 1st year postpartum.
Design: Analysis of existing longitudinal, repeated-measures questionnaire data gathered at 4 and 12 months postpartum.
Participants: 94 postpartum women who were married or partnered, employed, and residing in a large urban area in the northwestern United States.
Outcome measures: Satisfaction with decision to return to work, role performance, work-family balance.
Results: Relationships between indicators of social support and return-to-work experiences were absent to modest. Satisfaction with child care was related to satisfaction with the decision to return to work. Workplace support was related to work-family balance at 12 months postpartum.
Conclusions: Satisfactory child care arrangements and supportive relationships in the workplace are the most significant facilitators of women's return to work postpartum.