The role of length of parental leave in strengthening mother-child bond and the husband-wife relationship in the Maldives

Abstract

This study examines how the extension of the period of parental leave, from 60 days to 180 days that occurred in the Maldives in 2019, affected the family dynamics of mothers and their children. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from seven full-time working mothers, who had experienced both shorter and longer parental leave. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The most prominent finding was the higher level of involvement of father in taking care of the child with mothers reporting substantial strengthening in mother-child bond and the husband-wife relationship as parents during the longer parental leave. This research adds a new dimension to the discussion of the impact of longer parental leave legislation on family consolidation outcomes. It also has implications for the development of family policies that support the needs of both mothers and fathers during the first months of an infant’s life.