Working mothers are healthier and less depressed than those who stay at home with children, a poll showed on Friday.

Stay-at-home moms showed a higher level of stress and higher negative sentiment index, according to the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education’s study of 1,863 moms with babies under 18 months old.

Stay-at-home moms averaged 3.66 points in self-efficacy and 3.46 points in self-esteem on a scale of five. Those who worked full-time averaged 3.78 points and 3.58 points, respectively.

In depression, stay-at-home moms logged 1.95 points while working moms showed 1.82 points, the report showed.

Parenting stress was also higher for housewives, recording 2.77 points, while those working full-time logged 2.67 points.

“Stay-at-home moms are more stressed and depressed due to social awareness that takes homemaking for granted,” said Lim Hyun-joo, an instructor at Pai Chai University in Daejeon.

“In such a social atmosphere, it’s difficult for housewives to receive the government and their partners’ full support (for nursing and nurturing kids), which is desperately needed to boost their overall satisfaction in life,” Lim said.

The study also showed that moms working part-time showed similar levels of self-efficacy and depression compared with stay-at-home moms.

“For working moms to have a positive attitude (about life), the government should not only focus on creating more jobs but providing full-time positions that guarantee wage stability,” Lim said.

By Suk Gee-hyun (monicasuk@heraldcorp.com)