Publication type
Journal Article
Authors
Publication date
September 15, 2026
Summary:
While the transition to parenthood is typically marked by increased expenses and reduced financial well-being, existing research has predominantly focused on the impact of parenthood on wage disparities. However, wages alone do not fully encompass financial well-being, which is significantly influenced by varying expectations and parenting styles across genders and occupational classes. This underscores the importance of incorporating subjective financial experiences into the literature on the financial consequences of the transition to parenthood. Using 30 waves of BHPS/UKHLS (1991–2021) and employing fixed-effects models, this paper examines the gendered relationship between the transition to parenthood and financial well-being and explores how the patterns may vary by employment and occupational status. The results demonstrate that parenthood is associated with significantly reduced financial well-being, with a more pronounced effect on women than on men. For women, those in paid employment experience a greater decline compared to non-employed women, especially those in professional and managerial roles, who face the steepest reductions. In contrast, for men, while those employed also report a significantly larger decline in financial well-being, the disparities remain consistent across occupations. Overall, these findings enhance the existing literature on gender and parenthood disparities in wages by incorporating subjective financial experiences. This approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of the financial consequences of the transition to parenthood across genders and occupational classes.
Published in
Journal of Family and Economic Issues
Volume and page numbers
Volume: 47 , p.611 -631
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-026-10105-8
ISSN
10580476
Subjects
Notes
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2026
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