Investigating variations in paid parental leave uptake among mothers: A Canadian longitudinal population-based study

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Reference

*Julien C, Nazif-Munoz JI, Fitzpatrick C, Lemieux A, Melchior M, *Kosak LA, Garon-Carrier G. (2025). Investigating variations in paid parental leave uptake among mothers: A Canadian longitudinal population-based study. Community, Work & Family.

Abstract

This study examines how child, maternal, family, and health-related determinants contribute to variations in the uptake of paid maternal leave. We used data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, a representative cohort of infants born in 2020–2021 (N = 3456). Mothers were interviewed at 5 and 17 months postpartum, and three groups of leave were derived: no leave taking (n = 299), maternity leave with non-shared weeks of parental leave (n = 1927), and maternity leave with shared weeks of parental leave (n = 1150). Multivariate multinomial regression models using survey-weighted data yielded odds ratios. Low educational attainment, immigration background, poverty, cannabis use, and perinatal preventive services usage increased the odds of taking no leave, while being a first-time mother and a single parent, drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and accessing preventive withdrawal were associated with a decreased likelihood of not taking leave. Maternal age, lower educational attainment, and poverty were associated with increased odds, while immigration background and cannabis use were associated with decreased odds of taking maternity leave with non-shared (vs. shared) parental benefits. Mothers with no leave taking are more likely to experience increased socioeconomic hardship. Citizenship-based rather than employment-based parental leave policy could promote early-life equity across families from diverse backgrounds.

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