Occupational exposures and maternal mental health across the perinatal period: a systematic review
Abstract
A growing proportion of women work during pregnancy and return to employment within the first postpartum year. Their working conditions may shape maternal mental health, yet the evidence is uneven. We reviewed how occupational exposures relate to the full range of maternal psychological outcomes, from distress to wellbeing, across pregnancy and the return to work. Ten studies met the criteria. All addressed psychosocial exposures, only two also physical and ergonomic demands, and none chemical or biological hazards. Adverse psychosocial conditions, including job strain, pregnancy discrimination, and poor job quality, predicted higher depression and anxiety in both periods, with perceived stress as a pathway. Protective resources, such as schedule flexibility and social support, helped only under specific conditions. The mental health impact of non-psychosocial exposures is therefore a structural gap, relevant to antenatal care and occupational medicine.
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BibTeX
@article{darmaillacq2026occupational,
title = {{Occupational exposures and maternal mental health across the perinatal period: a systematic review}},
author = {Charline Darmaillacq and Sabrina Seryer and Dalia Alleaume and Shukrullah Ahmadi and Eleonore Remy and Susana Barbosa and Laetitia Davidovic and Judith van der Waerden and Jaqueline Wendland},
journal = {Best Practice and Research: Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2026.102750},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05826682v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Occupational exposures and maternal mental health across the perinatal period: a systematic review
AU - Charline Darmaillacq
AU - Sabrina Seryer
AU - Dalia Alleaume
AU - Shukrullah Ahmadi
AU - Eleonore Remy
AU - Susana Barbosa
AU - Laetitia Davidovic
AU - Judith van der Waerden
AU - Jaqueline Wendland
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/10
JO - Best Practice and Research: Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology
DO - 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2026.102750
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05826682v1
AB - A growing proportion of women work during pregnancy and return to employment within the first postpartum year. Their working conditions may shape maternal mental health, yet the evidence is uneven. We reviewed how occupational exposures relate to the full range of maternal psychological outcomes, from distress to wellbeing, across pregnancy and the return to work. Ten studies met the criteria. All addressed psychosocial exposures, only two also physical and ergonomic demands, and none chemical or biological hazards. Adverse psychosocial conditions, including job strain, pregnancy discrimination, and poor job quality, predicted higher depression and anxiety in both periods, with perceived stress as a pathway. Protective resources, such as schedule flexibility and social support, helped only under specific conditions. The mental health impact of non-psychosocial exposures is therefore a structural gap, relevant to antenatal care and occupational medicine.
SN - 1521-6934
ER -