DREAM on – a prolongation of the Dresden Study on Parenting, Work, and Mental Health (“DREAM”)

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Susan Garthus-Niegel, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Public Health, Healthcare Research, Social and Occupational Medicine
• Term: from 2017 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 386062777

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, women and men have equal rights and every human being has the right to work. Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that, instead of pursuing paid work, German mothers rather than fathers bear the brunt of child care responsibilities, and therefore incur great sacrifices. Beyond equality considerations, some studies have shown maternal work participation to be related to better somatic and mental health. However, evidence predominantly stems from the United States and from cross-sectional designs. Also, previous studies have primarily focussed on maternal health and have not included the entire family system. They have also neglected the potential relevance of precarious working conditions and psychosocial work stress. For this reason, the potential etiologic role of employment on health remains unclear. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the previous international research results are applicable to working women and families in Germany, where maternal work participation is comparatively low.The aim of the present study is to prospectively investigate the impact of parental role distributions, work participation, and working conditions on health-related outcomes of the entire family. During the course of 12 months, more than 3,000 pregnant women and their partners will be recruited from maternity clinics as well as gynecological practices. In order to take into account the variation in maternal work participation between East and West Germany, we will recruit families from two study centers, i.e. an East German site (Dresden, n=2,000) and a West German site (the city of Bremen, n=1,000). Taken together, this prospective duo-centric cohort study will include four measurement points. The measurement points have been chosen to align with certain milestones for young German families and to be able to investigate the potential development of a gender gap over time. Variables of interest will be assessed using questionnaires including a wide spectrum of work and health related questions. In addition to the quantitative data collection, we intend to conduct a qualitative sub-study. In-depth interviews will be conducted with more traditional as well as more progressive couples. The interviews will consider both attitudes regarding equality and the division of tasks in the relationship and the actual situation. The study, which includes extensive data collection, provides a unique opportunity to study the prospective associations of role distributions, work participation, and health in the entire family. Causal relationships in accordance with a longitudinal design and a systemic approach will be examined. Further, the results of the present study will give indications with regard to whether and how other important factors, such as precarious working conditions and psychosocial work stress moderate potential associations.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants