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Paid maternal leave is associated with better language and socioemotional outcomes during toddlerhood

Karina Kozak1, Ashley Greaves1, Jane Waldfogel2

  • 1Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, USA.

Infancy : the Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies
|March 23, 2021
PubMed

The United States is the only high-income country that does not have a national policy mandating paid leave to working women who give birth. Increased rates of maternal employment post-birth call for greater understanding of the effects of family leave on infant development. This study examined the links between paid leave and toddler language, cognitive, and socioemotional outcomes (24-36 months; N = 328). Results indicate that paid leave was associated with better language outcomes, regardless of socioeconomic status. Additionally, paid leave was correlated with fewer infant behavior problems for mothers with lower levels of educational attainment. Expanding access to policies that support families in need, like paid family leave, may aid in reducing socioeconomic disparities in infant development.

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