Mothers who are unhappy at work, or who are left emotionally exhausted, can pass their stress on to their children, but this can be alleviated if children spend longer in daycare, it found.
The report, published this week in the Journal of Developmental Psychobiology, says that greater support is needed for mothers to help improve their working lives and increase the availability of affordable childcare.
Researchers from Bristol, Bath and Kent universities examined the levels of the stress hormone cortisol by taking saliva samples in the morning and evening from 56 children aged three to four.
They also questioned mothers about their workplace conditions and home life over six months.
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