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Maternal genetic risk for depression and child human capital

Author

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  • Menta, Giorgia
  • Lepinteur, Anthony
  • Clark, Andrew E.
  • Ghislandi, Simone
  • D'Ambrosio, Conchita

Abstract

We here address the causal relationship between the maternal genetic risk for depression and child human capital using UK birth-cohort data. We find that an increase of one standard deviation (SD) in the maternal polygenic risk score for depression reduces their children's cognitive and non-cognitive skill scores by 5 to 7% of a SD throughout adolescence. Our results are robust to a battery of sensitivity tests addressing, among others, concerns about pleiotropy and dynastic effects. Our Gelbach decomposition analysis suggests that the strongest mediator is genetic nurture (through maternal depression itself), with genetic inheritance playing only a marginal role.

Suggested Citation

  • Menta, Giorgia & Lepinteur, Anthony & Clark, Andrew E. & Ghislandi, Simone & D'Ambrosio, Conchita, 2023. "Maternal genetic risk for depression and child human capital," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:87:y:2023:i:c:s0167629622001321
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2022.102718
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Maternal depression; Human capital; ALSPAC;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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