The impact of childhood cancer on parental working status and income in Denmark: Patterns over time and determinants of adverse changes

Having a child with cancer may affect the socioeconomic situation of the parents. We aimed to assess the impact of childhood cancer on parental working status and income and to identify determinants of adverse changes after the child's cancer diagnosis by calendar period. We conducted a nationwide cohort study using Danish registry data. Parents of children diagnosed with cancer in 1982–2014 (n = 12,418) were matched with comparison parents of cancer‐free children (n = 125,014). We analysed annual working status (working/not working) and annual disposable income (lowest quintile/not lowest quintile) of case and comparison parents over a period of 10 years after diagnosis by calendar period (1982–1999 vs. 2000–2014). Logistic regression models were used to identify determinants of adverse changes after diagnosis. Mothers of children diagnosed in 1982–1999 were more likely not working or having a low income than comparison mothers up to 10 years after diagnosis. This risk of not working or low income was lower in mothers of children diagnosed in 2000–2014 compared to 1982–1999 in the first years after diagnosis (pinteraction