Adverse pregnancy outcomes following a job loss in the UK

Publication type

ISER Working Paper Series

Series Number

2022-09

Series

ISER Working Paper Series

Authors

Publication date

September 16, 2022

Abstract:

Research has documented that economic downturns increase the risk of pregnancy loss. However, previous work on has not addressed the influence of in utero exposure to job loss with high-quality individual data. We draw on ‘Understanding Society’ (UKHLS, sweeps 1-11, 2009-2020), which contains a sample of 7,698 pregnancies. The dependent variable identifies a non-live birth, namely a miscarriage or a stillbirth. We examine the couples who were exposed to an involuntary job loss and those who were not. Baseline models controlling for women’s socio-demographic background and prior experience of miscarriage indicate an increased risk of pregnancy loss when exposed to in utero job loss [odds ratio (OR) = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.42, 3.29]. When we account for all current socio-economic characteristics, the association remains statistically significant [odds ratio (OR) =1.96, 95% CI: 1.29, 2.98]. The findings support the inference that the in utero exposure to an involuntary job loss increases the risk of pregnancy disruption.

Subjects

Notes

PLEASE CITE AS: Di Nallo, A. and Koksal, S (2023) 'Job loss during pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth', Human Reproduction. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dead183


Related Publications

#567953

News

Latest findings, new research

Publications search

Search all research by subject and author

Podcasts

Researchers discuss their findings and what they mean for society

Projects

Background and context, methods and data, aims and outputs

Events

Conferences, seminars and workshops

Survey methodology

Specialist research, practice and study

Taking the long view

ISER's annual report

Themes

Key research themes and areas of interest