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Vol. 61 No. 3 (2025)
DOI: 10.4415/ANN_25_03_06
Original Articles
2025-09-16
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Paternity and parental leave in Italy: the parents’ perspective

Authors

Francesca Zambri , Vincenza Di Stefano , Annachiara Di Nolfi , Barbara Vatta , Annina Lubbock , Giorgio Tamburlini , Maddalena Cannito , Mara Marzella , Elise Merrill Chapin , Flavia Splendore , Gabriella Tambascia , Alessandro Volta , Mara Piasentin , Paola Scardetta , Angela Giusti , 4E-PARENT Working Group

Abstract

Background. Growing recognition of fathers’ role in childcare highlights paternity and parental leave policies. The aim of this study is to investigate the perspectives of parents in Italy on the paternity and parental leave utilisation by fathers.
Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out, using web-based questionnaires targeting parents of children born between 2018 and 2023. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyse quantitative data, while qualitative content analysis was applied to open-ended responses.
Results. A total of 3,811 mothers and 720 fathers responded. Paternity leave was used by 72.6% of fathers. Non-use was primarily attributed to ineligibility (58.4%). Fathers’ parental leave utilisation was low (20.4%). Most parents agreed that mothers need longer leave for the dyad’s needs, like breastfeeding. Living in southern Italy and having lower educational levels reduce the likelihood to take leave.
Conclusions. Paternity and parental leave are underutilised by fathers in Italy. There is a need for better-paid and more accessible leave policies to promote active fatherhood and gender equality.

Keywords: paternity leave, parental leave, active fatherhood

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Authors

Francesca Zambri - National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy

Vincenza Di Stefano - Centro Nazionale per la Prevenzione delle Malattie e la Promozione della Salute, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy

Annachiara Di Nolfi - National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy

Barbara Vatta - Centro per la Salute del Bambino Onlus, Trieste, Italy

Annina Lubbock - Centro per la Salute del Bambino Onlus, Trieste, Italy

Giorgio Tamburlini - Centro per la Salute del Bambino Onlus, Trieste, Italy

Maddalena Cannito - Department of Cultures, Politics and Society, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

Mara Marzella - Deep Blue, Rome, Italy

Elise Merrill Chapin - Italian National Committee for UNICEF, Rome, Italy

Flavia Splendore - National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy

Gabriella Tambascia - National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy

Alessandro Volta - Department of Mother and Child Health, Primary Care – Local Health Authority (AUSL), Reggio-Emilia, Italy

Mara Piasentin - Centro per la Salute del Bambino Onlus, Trieste, Italy

Paola Scardetta - National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy

Angela Giusti - National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy

4E-PARENT Working Group

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Copyright (c) 2025 Istituto Superiore di Sanità

How to Cite
Zambri, F., Di Stefano, V., Di Nolfi, A., Vatta, B., Lubbock, A., Tamburlini, G., Cannito, M., Marzella, M., Merrill Chapin, E., Splendore, F., Tambascia, G., Volta, A., Piasentin, M., Scardetta, P., Giusti, A., & 4E-PARENT Working Group. (2025). Paternity and parental leave in Italy: the parents’ perspective. Annali dell’Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 61(3), 199–208. https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_25_03_06
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