Women, work and mental health: Room for improvement.

Women's labor force participation rates have steadily risen in recent years; today, approximately 45% of all workers are women. But there are factors that aversely affect women's physical and mental health. For example, working women play multiple roles: worker, wife, mother, caretaker of the elderly. Most women work-and are stuck in-low paying jobs that are stressful and uninteresting. Microelectronic devices pose yet other stresses at the work place. Preventive actions include organizing for better jobs and working conditions; passing legislation for better care of children and the elderly; and equalizing responsibilities in family roles through social change.