Association of Increasing the Minimum Wage in the US With Experiences of Maternal Stressful Life Events

Key Points Question Is there an association between increasing the minimum wage in the US and experiences of maternal stressful life events among socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnant people? Findings In this cross-sectional study including 199 308 women across 39 states, a $1 increase in the state-level minimum wage was associated with significant reductions in experiences of financial, partner-related, and total stressful life events. The largest reductions were observed for Hispanic women. Meaning The findings suggest that there is potential for minimum wage policies to improve maternal well-being among socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnant people.

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