Who benefits? examining the moderating role of race in paid family leave’s relationship with infant neglect

Jennifer M Tanis and Hannah Boyke

Children and Youth Services Review, 2026, vol. 180, issue C

Abstract: Paid family leave (PFL) policies provide caregivers with essential time away from work to care for their infants, potentially alleviating economic stressors that contribute to infant neglect. While prior research suggests that PFL reduces infant maltreatment risk, its relationship with neglect, specifically, remains understudied. This study examines whether PFL implementation influences neglect rates and whether this relationship varies by the racial composition of state populations from 2003 to 2022. We analyze state-level neglect data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, constructing a longitudinal panel dataset across 44 states and Washington, DC. Using mixed effects beta regression, we assess whether state-level shares of residents identifying as people of color (POC), Black, American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN), Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI), or Hispanic/Latinx moderate the relationship between PFL and neglect rates.

Keywords: Paid family leave; Neglect; Prevention; Racial disparities; Family policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:180:y:2026:i:c:s0190740925005705

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108687

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