Occupational exposures and maternal mental health across the perinatal period: a systematic review

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.