Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/207370 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 12544
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We identify the causal effect of mothers' mental health during early - and soon after pregnancy on a range of child psychological, socio-emotional and cognitive outcomes measured between ages 4-16. Results suggest a negative effect on children's psychological and socio-emotional skills in early childhood, but these effects fade-out between the ages of 11-13. We find no significant effect on cognitive outcomes. The fade-out of effects may be partly explained by compensatory behaviour of parents, as we find that mental health during or soon after pregnancy raises breastfeeding and improves measures of interaction between mother and child.
Subjects: 
prenatal psychological health
child psychological outcomes
child socio-emotional outcomes
child cognitive outcomes
ALSPAC
JEL: 
I12
I14
I3
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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