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The effect of breastfeeding on children's cognitive and noncognitive development

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  • Borra, Cristina
  • Iacovou, Maria
  • Sevilla, Almudena

Abstract

This paper uses propensity score matching methods to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding and children's cognitive and noncognitive development. We find that breastfeeding for four weeks is positively and statistically significantly associated with higher cognitive test scores, by around one tenth of a standard deviation. The association between breastfeeding and noncognitive development is weaker, and is restricted to children of less educated mothers. We conclude that interventions which increase breastfeeding rates would improve not only children's health, but also their cognitive skills, and possibly also their noncognitive development.

Suggested Citation

  • Borra, Cristina & Iacovou, Maria & Sevilla, Almudena, 2012. "The effect of breastfeeding on children's cognitive and noncognitive development," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 496-515.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:19:y:2012:i:4:p:496-515
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2012.05.007
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    Cited by:

    1. Conti, Valentina & Kopinska, Joanna, 2018. "The role of parental cognitive ageing in the intergenerational mobility of cognitive abilities," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 38-47.
    2. Anita Kottwitz & Anja Oppermann & C. Katharina Spiess, 2016. "Parental leave benefits and breastfeeding in Germany: effects of the 2007 reform," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 859-890, December.
    3. Miki Kobayashi & Emiko Usui, 2017. "Breastfeeding practices and parental employment in Japan," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 579-596, June.
    4. Li, Mengshi & Duan, Xiaoqian & Shi, Huifeng & Dou, Yan & Tan, Chang & Zhao, Chunxia & Huang, Xiaona & Wang, Xiaoli & Zhang, Jingxu, 2021. "Early maternal separation and development of left-behind children under 3 years of age in rural China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    5. Elena Claudia Meroni & Daniela Piazzalunga & Chiara Pronzato, 2022. "Allocation of time and child socio-emotional skills," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1155-1192, December.
    6. Koh, Kanghyock, 2017. "Maternal breastfeeding and children's cognitive development," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 101-108.
    7. Greta Morando & Sonkurt Sen & Almudena Sevilla, 2024. "Maternal Beliefs and Long-Term Child Skill Development," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2024_498, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    8. Bersak, Tim & Sonchak-Ardan, Lyudmyla, 2021. "Marginal changes, marginal impacts: The limits of changes to WIC and their ability to influence breastfeeding rates," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    9. repec:cep:sticas:/176 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Stewart, Kitty, 2013. "Labour's record on the under fives: policy, spending and outcomes 1997 - 2010," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 58084, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Kitty Stewart, 2013. "Labour's Record on the Under Fives: Policy, Spending and Outcomes 1997 - 2010," CASE - Social Policy in a Cold Climate Working Paper 04, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    12. Bolbocean, Corneliu & Tylavsky, Frances A., 2021. "The impact of safety net programs on early-life developmental outcomes," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    13. Emma Gorman & Colm Harmon & Silvia Mendolia & Anita Staneva & Ian Walker, 2019. "The Causal Effects of Adolescent School Bullying Victimisation on Later Life Outcomes," Working Papers 2019-019, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    14. Fort, Margherita & Ichino, Andrea & Zanella, Giulio, 2016. "Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Costs of Daycare 0–2 for Girls," IZA Discussion Papers 9756, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Kitty Stewart, 2013. "Labour’s Record on the Under Fives: Policy, Spending and Outcomes 1997-2010," CASE Papers case176, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    16. George Wehby, 2014. "Breastfeeding and Child Disability: A Comparison of Siblings from the United States," NBER Working Papers 19940, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    17. Fort, Margherita & Zanella, Giulio, 2019. "Cognitive and non-cognitive costs of daycare 0–2 for children in advantaged families," CEPR Discussion Papers 11120, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    18. Zhao, Xinhui & Yang, Juan, 2022. "Longer breastfeeding duration, better child development? Evidence from a large-scale survey in China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    19. Stewart, Kitty, 2013. "Labour's record on the under fives: policy, spending and outcomes 1997-2010," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 122089, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    20. Huebener, Mathias & Kuehnle, Daniel & Spiess, C. Katharina, 2019. "Parental leave policies and socio-economic gaps in child development: Evidence from a substantial benefit reform using administrative data," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    21. Emma Gorman & Colm Harmon & Silvia Mendolia & Anita Staneva & Ian Walker, 2021. "Adolescent School Bullying Victimization and Later Life Outcomes," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 83(4), pages 1048-1076, August.
    22. Bar-El, Ronen & Hatsor, Limor & Tobol, Yossef, 2020. "Home production, market substitutes, and the labor supply of mothers," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 378-390.
    23. Gloria Moroni, 2018. "Explaining Divorce Gaps in Cognitive and Noncognitive Skills of Children," Discussion Papers 18/16, Department of Economics, University of York.
    24. Nozaki, Yuko & Matsuura, Katsumi, 2020. "The impact of household resources on child behavioral problems," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 282-292.
    25. Stewart, Kitty, 2013. "Labour's record on the under fives: policy, spending and outcomes 1997 - 2010," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 51201, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Breastfeeding; Cognitive and noncognitive outcomes; Child development; ALSPAC;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • J0 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General

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