Woman's career path transforming into caregiving, symbolizing the impact of parental health.

The Silent Squeeze: How Parental Health Impacts Adult Children's Careers, Especially Women

Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research reveals the hidden penalties adult children face when parents experience health shocks, with women disproportionately bearing the burden on their careers. Is it time for a policy change?"

The modern family juggles a complex web of responsibilities. Beyond managing their own lives, many adults find themselves increasingly involved in caring for aging parents. While this support is crucial, new research is uncovering a hidden cost: the silent squeeze on adult children's careers, especially for women.

A groundbreaking study highlights how parental health shocks – unexpected health crises like hospitalizations – can significantly derail the career trajectories of adult children. This isn't just about taking a few days off; the research suggests long-term consequences, particularly affecting women's employment opportunities.

In an era where women are striving for equal footing in the workplace, understanding these subtle yet powerful forces is more critical than ever. This article delves into the findings of this important study, exploring the gender differences in how parental health impacts careers, and what steps can be taken to mitigate these effects.

The Hidden Health Penalty: How Parental Health Shocks Impact Careers

Woman's career path transforming into caregiving, symbolizing the impact of parental health.

The study, conducted by researchers Jiayi Wen and Haili Huang, examined the long-term impact of parental health shocks on adult children's employment in China. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) from 2012 to 2020, the researchers analyzed how unexpected parental hospitalizations affected the employment status of their adult children.

The results revealed a concerning trend: female adult children experienced a notable decline in their employment rates following a parental health shock. On average, their employment rate decreased by 3.7 percentage points. What's even more striking is the lack of recovery – this negative impact persisted for up to eight years after the initial health event.

The Gender Divide: While women's careers took a hit, the study found no significant impact on the employment of male adult children. This highlights a clear gender disparity in how families respond to parental health crises.
Long-Term Consequences: The persistent nature of the employment decline is alarming, suggesting that women who leave the workforce to care for parents may face significant challenges in re-entering the job market.
Economic Implications: The study points to a worrying consequence for developing countries: the phenomenon of "growing old before getting rich," where families struggle to balance economic progress with the increasing demands of elder care.

To understand these findings, the researchers developed a framework that considers both the 'substitution effect' (the need to provide informal care) and the 'income effect' (increased medical expenses). This framework helps explain why women, who often bear the brunt of caregiving responsibilities, are more likely to experience career setbacks.

What Can Be Done? Addressing the Silent Squeeze

The findings of this study underscore the urgent need for societal and policy changes to support families facing the challenges of elder care. This isn't just a personal issue; it's an economic one with far-reaching consequences. By understanding the gendered impact of parental health shocks, we can begin to develop solutions that promote both economic growth and family well-being. Here are some potential avenues:

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2024.102886,

Title: Parental Health Penalty On Adult Children'S Employment: Gender Difference And Long-Term Consequence

Subject: econ.gn q-fin.ec

Authors: Jiayi Wen, Haili Huang

Published: 24-08-2023

Everything You Need To Know

What are parental health shocks, and why are they important to consider in the context of adult children's careers?

Parental health shocks refer to unexpected health crises, such as hospitalizations, experienced by parents. These events are critical because they can significantly disrupt the career paths of adult children, particularly women. The 'substitution effect,' where adult children step in to provide informal care, and the 'income effect,' stemming from increased medical expenses, both contribute to this disruption. Understanding the impact of parental health shocks is essential for developing policies that support working families and promote gender equality in the workplace. Without addressing these shocks, the career progression of many adult children, especially women, may be stifled, leading to long-term economic consequences.

How does the research using the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data reveal the impact of parental health shocks on adult children's employment?

The research, conducted using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) from 2012 to 2020, analyzed how unexpected parental hospitalizations affected the employment status of adult children. The study found that female adult children experienced a notable decline in employment rates, averaging a 3.7 percentage point decrease, following a parental health shock. This negative impact persisted for up to eight years, highlighting the long-term consequences. Notably, no significant impact was observed on the employment of male adult children, underscoring a gender disparity in caregiving responsibilities and career impacts. The CFPS data provided a comprehensive view, enabling researchers to quantify the economic burden and employment challenges faced by adult children during and after parental health crises.

Why does the study emphasize the gender divide in the impact of parental health shocks on careers, and what are the potential long-term consequences for women?

The study highlights the gender divide because it found that women's careers are significantly more affected by parental health shocks than men's. The 'substitution effect' often leads women to take on more caregiving responsibilities, resulting in career interruptions and reduced employment opportunities. The long-term consequences for women include challenges in re-entering the job market, potential loss of career advancement, and reduced lifetime earnings. The persistent nature of employment decline, lasting up to eight years post-shock, further exacerbates these issues, indicating a need for targeted support and policies to mitigate these gendered impacts and promote gender equality in career opportunities.

What are the 'substitution effect' and 'income effect,' and how do they explain the career setbacks experienced by women due to parental health shocks?

The 'substitution effect' refers to the need for adult children, particularly women, to provide informal care for their parents when health shocks occur, often requiring them to reduce their work hours or leave their jobs entirely. The 'income effect' arises from the increased medical expenses associated with parental health crises, adding financial strain on families. Women, who often bear the brunt of caregiving responsibilities, are more likely to experience career setbacks as they balance work and caregiving duties. These combined effects create a significant burden, impacting women's employment opportunities and career progression, necessitating societal and policy support to alleviate this pressure.

How does the concept of 'growing old before getting rich' relate to the findings of the study on parental health shocks and adult children's careers?

The concept of 'growing old before getting rich' highlights the challenge faced by developing countries where families struggle to balance economic progress with the increasing demands of elder care. Parental health shocks exacerbate this issue by placing additional financial and caregiving burdens on adult children, particularly women, hindering their career advancement and economic contributions. This phenomenon can slow down overall economic development as families divert resources from savings and investment to cover healthcare costs and provide informal care. Addressing the needs of aging populations through policy changes and societal support is essential to mitigate the 'growing old before getting rich' scenario and promote sustainable economic growth.