Women worldwide have experienced profound transformations in recent decades, most notably their growing participation in the labor force. In 2023, women's global labor force participation reached 48.7%. In Mexico, women's participation increased from 34% in 1990 to 46% in 2023. Among the 24 million employed women in Mexico, 46.6% are between 30 and 49 years of age and 26.2% between 15 and 29 meaning that 72.8% are in their reproductive years. Returning to work after childbirth poses significant challenges, as women undergo substantial and rapid cognitive, hormonal, biological, and physiological fluctuations from pregnancy through the postpartum period. In Mexico, women devote an average of 40 hours per week to household and caregiving tasks, a figure that increases 2.4-fold in households with children under six years old.
The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of returning to work on the mental health of a group of mexican women. The sample consists of 120 employed mothers. Variables assessed include maternal mental and cognitive health, challenges in the transition to the maternal role, workplace flexibility, maternal age, time devoted to paid work, and the duration of maternity leave. Results are presented by comparing differences among mothers who returned to work 40 days after childbirth (as mandated by Mexican labor law), 80 days, and more than 80 days postpartum. The study discusses the effects on women's mental and cognitive health and examines the implications of shorter versus longer maternity leaves.