Psychology studies find that, if women take brief leave after birth, there is higher risk of anxiety and depression. However, this was mainly if returning to work coincided with maternal fatigue, lack of support, and general bad health.[1] The conservative conclusion to draw is that women should have a viable option of longer leave, in case the other risk factors cause them to need it. Many New Zealand women believe current PPL provides for their health: In DOL’s 2007 survey, 64% of PPL-taking mothers agreed or strongly agreed that PPL “gives me enough time to recover from having a baby”, while 32% disagreed or strongly disagreed.[2] Still, 32% is a large dissatisfied proportion, given that 87% of mothers rated their own health as important or very important in decisions regarding leave.[3]
[1] Gjerdingen, D. K., Froberg, D. G., & Kochevar, L., 1991. “Changes in Women’s Mental and Physical Health From Pregnancy Through Six Months Postpartum”. Journal of Family Practice, 32: 161-166; Hyde, J. S., Klein, M. H., Essex, M. J., & Clark, R., 1995. “Maternity Leave and Women’s Mental Health”. Psychology of Women’s Quarterly, 19(2): 257-285; Klein, M. H., Hyde, J. S., Essex, M. J., & Clark, R., 1998. “Maternity Leave, Role, Quality, Work Involvement, and Mental Health One Year After Delivery”. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 22(2): 239–266.
[2] Department of Labour (DOL), 2007. Parental Leave in New Zealand 2005-6 Evaluation. Accessed 10/9/2009 at http://dol.govt.nz/publications/research/publication-view.asp?ID=225, p. 33.
[3] Ibid., p. 32.