A recent study conducted by the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) nursing school has found that extending paid maternity leave significantly lowers the risk of postnatal depression in new mothers.
Postnatal depression, a common and serious mental health condition, can affect mothers for up to 12 months after giving birth. In Hong Kong, approximately 30 percent of new mothers suffer from postnatal depression, a figure notably higher than the global average of 18 percent.
The study, conducted in collaboration with Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore and the University of British Columbia in Canada, surveyed 1,414 mothers. It compared two groups: one that gave birth between August and December 2020, before the SAR government extended statutory maternity leave from 10 to 14 weeks, and another group that gave birth between December 2020 and July 2022, after the policy change.
Women aged 25 to 34, who have the highest workforce participation rate of 80 percent, were identified as the primary beneficiaries of this extended leave. The average age of the mothers participating in the study was 32, with most employed in skilled occupations.
The findings revealed that the extension of paid maternity leave resulted in a 22 percent decrease in postnatal depression symptoms. Additionally, the number of mothers reporting that their negative emotions affected baby care dropped by 33 percent.
Dr. Quan Jianchao, clinical assistant professor at HKU’s School of Public Health, emphasized that the extended leave did not lead to an increased number of women leaving the workforce. This suggests that the new policy supports the retention of highly skilled and educated female employees. “Even a modest policy change—an additional four weeks of paid leave—yielded significant mental health benefits,” he noted.
Despite the positive results, Dr. Quan expressed concern about the ongoing challenges of maternal mental health. “A third of the mothers in our study had probable postnatal depression. Previous estimates have placed the rate between 16 and 30 percent of Hong Kong mothers, depending on when the assessment was made,” he said. “These figures remain high when compared to other Asian and Western countries.”
In response to the growing need for family-friendly policies, neighboring governments are increasing funding for paid parental leave. Ellie Bostwick Andres, a senior research fellow at Duke-NUS Medical School and one of the study’s lead investigators, pointed to Singapore’s recent policy decision to add 10 weeks of fully government-paid leave. By 2026, Singaporean mothers will be entitled to 30 weeks of paid maternity leave.
The findings highlight the significant mental health benefits of even modest increases in maternity leave, reinforcing the importance of supportive policies for working mothers.
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