Postpartum Depression and the Motherhood Penalty

Sonia Bhalotra, N. Meltem Daysal, Louis Freget, Jonas Cuzulan Hirani, Priyama Majumdar, Mircea Trandafir, Miriam Wüst and Tom Zohar

No 12392, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: Using Danish administrative data linked to two independent, validated postpartum depression screenings, we study how postpartum mental health shocks shape women’s labor market trajectories. Event-study estimates show no pre-birth differences in trends between depressed and 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)
Date: 2026
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