Our study addresses whether working parents with young children living in childcare deserts experience greater work‐family conflict and psychological distress compared to those in more resourced areas. We use 2011 individual‐level data from Toronto matched to census and administrative childcare data. Results suggest that mothers experience greater conflict than fathers when in high‐resourced areas. Fathers who work long hours and reside in a desert report greater psychological distress than fathers in nondeserts. These patterns are contrary to the observed results for mothers’ distress by childcare availability. Our study underscores the impact of childcare options and the importance of access for all.

中文翻译：

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生活在育儿沙漠中的后果：来自加拿大的证据

我们的研究针对的是与生活在资源丰富地区的父母相比，在育儿沙漠生活的有子女的在职父母是否遭受更大的工作家庭冲突和心理困扰。我们使用来自多伦多的2011年个人数据与人口普查和行政育儿数据相匹配。结果表明，在资源丰富的地区，母亲比父亲遭受更大的冲突。在沙漠中工作时间长的父亲比在荒漠中的父亲遭受更大的心理困扰。这些模式与通过托儿服务获得的母亲苦恼的观察结果相反。我们的研究强调了育儿选择的影响以及全民获取的重要性。