Objective: We aimed to evaluate anxiety and depression, maternal attachment, and self-esteem in working mothers.

Methods: We recruited 200 working and 200 non-working mothers with children younger than 6 years old. We used the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, Pharis Self-Confidence Scale, and Maternal Attachment Inventory. In addition, we used the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition to rule in major depressive disorder.

Results: We found that working mothers had a lower depression rate than non-working mothers (P=.007), but the anxiety rate was insignificant (P>.05). However, working mothers had significantly lower maternal attachment (P=.032) and self-confidence (P=.001) than non-working mothers.

Conclusion: Maternal employment had a positive effect on depression, but it had no impact on anxiety.