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Non-cognitive peer effects in early education: The influence of children born to teenage mothers on peers’ behavioral problems

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  • Gagete-Miranda, Jessica
  • Meschi, Elena
  • Pagani, Laura

Abstract

This paper investigates the influence of early exposure to peers born to teenage mothers on young children's behavioral problems. We use data from a nationally representative sample of US children and exploit the quasi-random allocation of children across classes within schools during the first year of kindergarten to estimate causal effects. The results indicate that exposure to peers born to teenage mothers negatively impacts students’ internalizing behavior and cognitive performance. This effect is mainly driven by peers with very young mothers. The internalizing behavior of peers from teenage mothers emerges as a possible mechanism for the observed impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Gagete-Miranda, Jessica & Meschi, Elena & Pagani, Laura, 2024. "Non-cognitive peer effects in early education: The influence of children born to teenage mothers on peers’ behavioral problems," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:236:y:2024:i:c:s0165176524000636
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2024.111580
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Peer effects; Early education; Behavioral problems; Teenage pregnancy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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