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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Paternity leave duration and parental mental health at two, six and twelve months post-partum: An outcome-wide analysis of a national cohort study
1
HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Geneva School of Health Sciences- GENeva MIdwifery Research unit GENMIR, Geneva, Switzerland
2
Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Research Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Winterthur, Switzerland
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A909
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Since 2021, the legal duration of paid paternity leave in Switzerland has been two weeks, considerably shorter than in many European countries. A growing body of evidence suggests that paid leave policies can support the mental health of new parents. However, the association between paternity leave duration and parental mental health outcomes remains unclear.
OBJECTIVES:
To assess whether paternity leave duration is associated with parental mental health at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum.
METHODS:
We used data from a Swiss national cohort study of mothers and partners recruited after birth in 81 centers during Spring 2025. Planned paternity leave duration was reported in the first paternal questionnaire completed after birth. Mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, stress, loneliness, poor wellbeing, poor quality of life) were collected at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum (data collection is still ongoing). Associations between paternity leave duration and parental mental health were examined using logistic regression models adjusted for a common set of covariates. We calculated E-values to evaluate potential unmeasured confounding.
RESULTS:
Among 975 partners, 14.2% did not take any leave, while 36.6%, 34.0% and 15.2% took 1-14 days, 15-28 days and 29 days or more, respectively. Preliminary results indicated that paternity leave duration was not associated with mental health outcomes in mothers and partners at two months postpartum. Data collection at 6 and 12 months is scheduled until Spring 2026.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings suggest that the short-term impact of paternity leave duration on mental health may be limited. Despite this, paternity leave remains a critical structural support for family well-being. Midwives are uniquely positioned to detect psychological distress, promote balanced parental involvement, and advocate for support systems that account for both maternal and paternal needs.
KEY MESSAGE:
Paternity leave duration was not associated with parental mental health at two months postpartum. Poster session 4 (Group B)
Since 2021, the legal duration of paid paternity leave in Switzerland has been two weeks, considerably shorter than in many European countries. A growing body of evidence suggests that paid leave policies can support the mental health of new parents. However, the association between paternity leave duration and parental mental health outcomes remains unclear.
OBJECTIVES:
To assess whether paternity leave duration is associated with parental mental health at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum.
METHODS:
We used data from a Swiss national cohort study of mothers and partners recruited after birth in 81 centers during Spring 2025. Planned paternity leave duration was reported in the first paternal questionnaire completed after birth. Mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, stress, loneliness, poor wellbeing, poor quality of life) were collected at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum (data collection is still ongoing). Associations between paternity leave duration and parental mental health were examined using logistic regression models adjusted for a common set of covariates. We calculated E-values to evaluate potential unmeasured confounding.
RESULTS:
Among 975 partners, 14.2% did not take any leave, while 36.6%, 34.0% and 15.2% took 1-14 days, 15-28 days and 29 days or more, respectively. Preliminary results indicated that paternity leave duration was not associated with mental health outcomes in mothers and partners at two months postpartum. Data collection at 6 and 12 months is scheduled until Spring 2026.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings suggest that the short-term impact of paternity leave duration on mental health may be limited. Despite this, paternity leave remains a critical structural support for family well-being. Midwives are uniquely positioned to detect psychological distress, promote balanced parental involvement, and advocate for support systems that account for both maternal and paternal needs.
KEY MESSAGE:
Paternity leave duration was not associated with parental mental health at two months postpartum. Poster session 4 (Group B)
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
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