Overview

• The peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Health Economics used an instrumental variable approach on SHARE survey data from more than 8,500 mothers and statutory leave rules between 1960 and 2010 to measure causal effects.
• An additional month of maternity leave increases the likelihood of later smoking by 1.2 percentage points and extends total smoking duration by seven months.
• Each extra leave month also correlates with an average rise of 0.2 cigarettes smoked per day and 0.6 additional pack-years.
• Mothers who lacked financial support from a partner around childbirth face a particularly heightened risk of long-term smoking when taking extended leave.
• Findings suggest that shorter parental leave may protect maternal health and that policy design should balance health outcomes with financial security, labor market reintegration and gender equality.