The Impact of Extended Maternity Leave on Mothers’ Health: Evidence From the China Family Panel Studies

To examine the impact of China’s 2016 maternity leave extension on mothers’ health, this study uses difference‐in‐differences models and five waves of the China Family Panel Studies (2012–2020). We find that extended maternity leave significantly improves mothers’ physical health and reduces depression. An extension of 10 days is associated with a 0.013‐unit decrease in self‐rated health and a 0.098‐point decrease in depression scores. Notably, the beneficial effects are more pronounced for those residing in rural areas and with a spouse; moreover, early childbearing benefits in physical health, and late childbearing benefits in mental health. Mechanistic analyses further reveal that extended maternity leave improves mothers’ health outcomes through improving life satisfaction. These findings provide new evidence from China on the health benefits of maternity leave and underscore the need for multidimensional postnatal health support and stronger family support policies as integral components of maternity leave reforms.