Working Status of First-Time Postpartum Mothers and Telomere Length-A 1-Year Prospective Study

Objective: Transitioning to motherhood can create work family conflicts affecting mothers' health. Although employment is generally associated with longer telomeres, this may diminish during the early years of child-rearing. This study aimed to assess the impact of work reentry on telomere length (TL) among first-time mothers. Methods: In this 1-year prospective study, a total of 103 first-time postpartum mothers participated from two medical institutions in Northern Israel; they completed validated questionnaires, reported their current working status, and provided dried blood spots measuring TL. Results: We found that working status significantly predicted change in TL and was negatively correlated with change in TL over time (beta = -0.245; 95% confidence interval, -0.169, -0.018; P = 0.016). Conclusions: Identifying ideal timing of work reentry is recommended for first-time postpartum mother's optimal health and TL.