The impact of child type 1 diabetes on parental incomes in a welfare state context: quasi-experimental evidence from Swedish national registers
Authors' conclusion
This study highlights the enduring financial consequences for parents caring for a child with type 1 diabetes in Sweden. While parental benefits in Sweden mitigated the short-term loss of maternal income, the current welfare system does not adequately address long-term consequences.
Study context
- Population
- Parents of children diagnosed with T1D in Sweden from 1993 to 2014, Swedish national registersparents of 13,358 children
- Comparison
- Parents of children with T1D vs matched control parents
- Control parentsn = 506,516reference
- Outcome
- Work-related and pension-qualifying incomes (including parental benefits)
- Follow-up
- First 7 years after diagnosis
Methodological detailsdifference-in-differences, population-based matched controls
- Difference-in-differences
- Population-based matched controls
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Mean yearly work-related income difference (€100) · year after diagnosis
Exposed parents vs Control parentsEstimate (95% CI)
Relative decrease 6.6%
mean yearly income difference, mothers −15.4 €100(−17.2 to −13.6)
Relative decrease 1.6%
mean yearly income difference, fathers −6.0 €100(−8.9 to −3.2)
Further findings
Mothers' pension-qualifying income (mean yearly income difference, €100; exposed vs control mothers), attributable to the parental care allowance · first year after diagnosis
- Increase in mothers' pension-qualifying income (€100)
- 28.7 (95% CI 27.1, 30.3)
- Difference-in-differences
Mothers' pension-qualifying income during long-term follow-up (€100) · after 17 years
- Gradual decrease in mothers' pension-qualifying income (€100)
- −10.9 (95% CI −16.6, −5.1)
- Parents of children diagnosed 1993-2004
Effects on income across subgroups
- The effects on income were similar across sociodemographic groups and calendar periods
Original publication
The impact of child type 1 diabetes on parental incomes in a welfare state context: quasi-experimental evidence from Swedish national registers. Diabetologia. Published 8 August 2025. doi:10.
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