Paid leave to support parenting-A neglected tool to improve societal well-being and prosperity

Ariadne Malamitsi-Puchner; Laura Addati; Guðný Björk Eydal; Despina D Briana; Flavia Bustreo; Gian Carlo Di Renzo; Margaret O'Brien; Mark Hanson; Neena Modi

doi:10.1111/apa.16929

Paid leave to support parenting-A neglected tool to improve societal well-being and prosperity

Acta Paediatr. 2023 Oct;112(10):2045-2049. doi: 10.1111/apa.16929. Epub 2023 Aug 9.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
² Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Branch, Conditions of Work and Equality Department, International Labour Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
³ Faculty of Social Work, School of Social Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
⁴ Fondation Botnar, Governance and Ethics Committee, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), Geneva, Switzerland.
⁵ Centre for Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
⁶ Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatal Medicine, IM Sechenov First State University, Moscow, Russia.
⁷ PREIS School, Florence, Italy.
⁸ Thomas Coram Research Unit, Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK.
⁹ Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Developmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
¹⁰ Section of Neonatal Medicine, School of Public Health, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital campus, Imperial College London, London, UK.

PMID: 37531082
DOI: 10.1111/apa.16929

Abstract

Cohesive families and stimulating and caring environments promoting attachment to caregivers is fundamental for a child's physical and psychosocial growth and development. Parental care, supporting early years development, presupposes the presence and involvement of parents in children's daily life with activities that include breastfeeding, playing, reading and storytelling. However, parents have to balance their child's well-being against employment, career progression and gender equality. Universally accessible and equitably available parental leave addresses this challenge. CONCLUSION: Distinct from compulsory maternity leave, leave at full or nearly full pay for both parents benefits not only families but also societal well-being and prosperity.

Keywords: early child growth and development; gender equity; job security; parental leave; well-being.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Breast Feeding
Child
Employment / psychology
Female
Humans
Parental Leave*
Parenting*
Parents / psychology
Pregnancy