Postpartum Depression and the Motherhood Penalty

786/2026 Sonia Bhalotra, N. Meltem Daysal, Louis Fréget, Jonas Cuzulan Hirani, Priyama Majumdar, Mircea Trandafir, Miriam Wüst, Tom Zohar

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.

Gender, Health and Wellbeing