Mothers of disabled children work less, take more sick leave, and often leave the workforce entirely

Mothers of disabled children in Norway often face a heavy caregiving burden, according to a new study by researchers at OsloMet.

The study examines the labour market participation of mothers with disabled children and how they manage the balance between caregiving responsibilities and employment.

Fathers, by contrast, are less affected in terms of labour market attachment or health when they have a chronically ill or disabled child. 

For mothers, however, the impact is significant, affecting their health, personal finances, and professional lives.

“There are schemes designed to alleviate the burden on mothers, but evidence suggests they are not effective,” says Kaja Larsen Østerud, one of the researchers behind the study.

Left to manage on their own

The research project involved interviews with 11 mothers over an extended period and observations of interprofessional meetings concerning the child. The researchers also interviewed the mothers’ coordinators in their respective municipalities.

“We largely leave these mothers to manage on their own, and I believe they need more support from the public welfare system than they currently receive,” says Østerud.

“This is also a gender equality issue. Why do we accept such poor labour market participation among these women?” she asks.

Spend half a workweek managing the services

The study highlights how mothers of disabled children often reduce their working hours and experience declining health as they navigate the welfare system. This affects their ability to stay employed.

Previous research shows that families with disabled children spend, on average, half a workweek managing services for their child.

“This creates social inequality, as navigating the system is so demanding. Those who struggle with it may not receive the support they need. Often, applications are rejected, requiring appeals, and all of this takes a lot of time. It’s a maze of rights and requirements they must navigate, with constant meetings,” says Østerud.

A matter of municipal budgets

Østerud notes that these challenges have been raised for years, but little has changed.

“Much of this comes down to municipal budgets. Difficult prioritisation decisions are made, and these women suffer as a result,” she says.

The researcher suggests that earmarked funding for these families could be a solution.

“Some services might need to be taken over by the state. For instance, there have been discussions about moving user-controlled personal assistance from the municipal level to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV),” she says. 

The mothers in the study emphasised that battles with the welfare system were particularly exhausting over time.

A more supportive system that better understands the needs of individual families could ease caregiving burdens and make it easier for mothers to remain in the workforce.

Reference:

Østerud et al. ‘My child is my job now’ – Care, work and careers of mothers with disabled children in the Norwegian welfare state, Social Science & Medicine, vol. 355, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117097

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