Postpartum Depression and the Motherhood Penalty

Sonia Bhalotra, N.Meltem Daysal, Louis. Freget, Jonas Cuzulan Hirani, Priyama Majumdar, Mircea Trandafir, Miriam Wuest and Tom Zohar
Additional contact information
Sonia Bhalotra: University of Warwick
N.Meltem Daysal: Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen
Louis. Freget: Paris-Dauphine PSL University
Jonas Cuzulan Hirani: VIVE
Priyama Majumdar: University of Warwick
Mircea Trandafir: Rockwool Foundation
Miriam Wuest: Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen
Tom Zohar: CEMFI

No 26-01, CEBI working paper series from University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI)

Abstract: Using Danish administrative data linked to two independent, validated postpartum depression screenings, we study how postpartum mental health shocks shape womens labor market trajectories. Event-study estimates show no pre-birth differences in trends between depressedand non-depressed mothers, but persistent employment gaps that widen immediately after birth. Health-care utilization patterns indicate that these differences reflect acute mental health shocks rather than pre-existing trends. The penalties are concentrated among less educated mothers and those in less family-friendly jobs. Our results highlight postpartum depression as a meaningful and unequal contributor to the motherhood penalty.

Keywords: Postpartum depression; motherhood penalty; labor market inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 J13 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40
Date: 2026-01-29
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur and nep-hea
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