Mothers' return to work after a first-born child with a disability: evidence from Norway

Previous research has documented the adverse economic consequences associated with caring for a child with a disability. However, less is known about the mechanisms responsible for these negative employment probabilities. To address this knowledge gap, this study examined differences in return to work following childbirth between mothers of a child with and without a disability, as well as the associated sociodemographic and job-related characteristics.

We analysed registry data from Statistics Norway. Our study included all first-born children in Norway between 2007 and 2015 and their respective mothers (n=107,298). Linear probability regression models were used to examine differences in mothers' return to work after childbirth and its associated factors.

After adjustment for sociodemographic and job-related characteristics, mothers of a child with a disability had lower probability of returning to work compared with other mothers. The factors having the strongest association with mothers' return to work were psychosocial job exposures and educational level. Mechanical job exposures, immigrant background, and divorce status had a moderate correlation with mothers' return to work. Factors that had a weaker influence on mothers' return to work were mothers' age at childbirth, and number of younger siblings. Moreover, educational level, divorce status and mechanical job exposures had differential effects on mothers of a child with and without a disability.

Our results suggest that mothers of a child with a disability may experience a more pronounced employment disadvantage than other mothers, even in Norway, where the welfare support for this group of mothers is relatively robust and extensive.