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Anxious Dads and Depressed Moms : Child Disability and the Mental Health of Parents

Asuman, Derek LU orcid ; Ásgeirsdóttir, Tinna Laufey and Jarl, Johan LU orcid (2025) In Health Economics (United Kingdom)
Abstract

Having a child with a disability undoubtedly affects parents in many ways, including their well-being. However, the specific mental health trajectories of parents, differentiated by the severity of impairments and parental roles, remain under-explored. We investigate the mental-health effects of having a child with a disability. Using individual-level register data from Sweden, we exploit the epidemiological features of Cerebral Palsy (CP) to estimate causal effects. Results show that prescriptions for mental-health disorders increase after the birth of a child with CP. While fathers are more likely to be dispensed anti-anxiety medications, dispensed medications for anti-depressants increase for mothers. Further, the effects are larger... (More)

Having a child with a disability undoubtedly affects parents in many ways, including their well-being. However, the specific mental health trajectories of parents, differentiated by the severity of impairments and parental roles, remain under-explored. We investigate the mental-health effects of having a child with a disability. Using individual-level register data from Sweden, we exploit the epidemiological features of Cerebral Palsy (CP) to estimate causal effects. Results show that prescriptions for mental-health disorders increase after the birth of a child with CP. While fathers are more likely to be dispensed anti-anxiety medications, dispensed medications for anti-depressants increase for mothers. Further, the effects are larger for parents of children with severe impairments but do not differ across parental characteristics. Our findings highlight the need for support and assistance for families with children with disabilities.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
anxiety, cerebral palsy, children, depression, disability, event study, mental health, parental penalty, sleeping disorders, Sweden
in
Health Economics (United Kingdom)
pages
24 pages
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • pmid:40210611
  • scopus:105002337168
ISSN
1057-9230
DOI
10.1002/hec.4962
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Health Economics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
id
38b05b77-c08e-4265-ab99-dba486b10b97
date added to LUP
2025-05-08 14:01:49
date last changed
2025-05-09 03:21:52
@article{38b05b77-c08e-4265-ab99-dba486b10b97,
  abstract     = {{<p>Having a child with a disability undoubtedly affects parents in many ways, including their well-being. However, the specific mental health trajectories of parents, differentiated by the severity of impairments and parental roles, remain under-explored. We investigate the mental-health effects of having a child with a disability. Using individual-level register data from Sweden, we exploit the epidemiological features of Cerebral Palsy (CP) to estimate causal effects. Results show that prescriptions for mental-health disorders increase after the birth of a child with CP. While fathers are more likely to be dispensed anti-anxiety medications, dispensed medications for anti-depressants increase for mothers. Further, the effects are larger for parents of children with severe impairments but do not differ across parental characteristics. Our findings highlight the need for support and assistance for families with children with disabilities.</p>}},
  author       = {{Asuman, Derek and Ásgeirsdóttir, Tinna Laufey and Jarl, Johan}},
  issn         = {{1057-9230}},
  keywords     = {{anxiety; cerebral palsy; children; depression; disability; event study; mental health; parental penalty; sleeping disorders; Sweden}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Health Economics (United Kingdom)}},
  title        = {{Anxious Dads and Depressed Moms : Child Disability and the Mental Health of Parents}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hec.4962}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/hec.4962}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}