Impact of missing data strategies in studies of parental employment and health: Missing items, missing waves, and missing mothers

Abstract

Background: Understanding the long-term health effects of employment – a major social determinant – on population health is best understood via longitudinal cohort studies, yet missing data (attrition, item non-response) remain a ubiquitous challenge. Additionally, and unique to the work-family context, is the intermittent participation of parents, particularly mothers, in employment, yielding ‘incomplete’ data. Missing data are patterned by gender and social circumstances, and the extent and nature of resulting biases are unknown. Method: This study investigates how estimates of the association between work-family conflict and mental health depend on the use of four different approaches to ..