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Early childhood WIC participation, cognitive development and academic achievement

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  • Jackson, Margot I.

Abstract

For the 22% of American children who live below the federal poverty line, and the additional 23% who live below twice that level, nutritional policy is part of the safety net against hunger and its negative effects on children's development. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides steadily available food from the food groups essential for physical and cognitive development. The effects of WIC on dietary quality among participating women and children are strong and positive. Furthermore, there is a strong influence of nutrition on cognitive development and socioeconomic inequality. Yet, research on the non-health effects of U.S. child nutritional policy is scarce, despite the ultimate goal of health policies directed at children—to enable productive functioning across multiple social institutions over the life course. Using two nationally representative, longitudinal surveys of children—the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) and the Child Development Supplement (CDS) of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics—I examine how prenatal and early childhood exposure to WIC is associated in the short-term with cognitive development, and in the longer-term with reading and math learning. Results show that early WIC participation is associated with both cognitive and academic benefits. These findings suggest that WIC meaningfully contributes to children's educational prospects.

Suggested Citation

  • Jackson, Margot I., 2015. "Early childhood WIC participation, cognitive development and academic achievement," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 145-153.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:126:y:2015:i:c:p:145-153
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.12.018
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    2. Nobari, Tabashir Z. & Nau, Claudia L. & Crespi, Catherine M. & Koebnick, Corinna & Li, Xia & Whaley, Shannon E. & Wang, May C., 2024. "Linking WIC program and HMO administrative data to study the impact of WIC participation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
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    4. Andrew S. Hanks & Carolyn Gunther & Dean Lillard & Robert L. Scharff, 2018. "From Paper to Plastic: Understanding the Impact of eWIC on WIC Recipient Behavior," NBER Working Papers 25131, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Jackson, Margot I. & Mayne, Patrick, 2016. "Child access to the nutritional safety net during and after the Great Recession: The case of WIC," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 197-207.
    6. Bolbocean, Corneliu & Tylavsky, Frances A., 2021. "The impact of safety net programs on early-life developmental outcomes," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    7. Hanks, Andrew S. & Gunther, Carolyn & Lillard, Dean & Scharff, Robert L., 2016. "From Paper to Plastic: Understanding the Impact of EBT on WIC Recipient Behavior," 2017 Allied Social Sciences Association (ASSA) Annual Meeting, January 6-8, 2017, Chicago, Illinois 251834, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Irma Arteaga & Colleen Heflin & Sarah Parsons, 2019. "Design Flaws: Consequences of the Coverage Gap in Food Programs for Children at Kindergarten Entry," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(2), pages 265-283, June.
    9. Kelin Li & Ming Wen & Megan Reynolds & Qi Zhang, 2019. "WIC Participation and Breastfeeding after the 2009 WIC Revision: A Propensity Score Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-12, July.
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    11. Nobles, Jenna & Hamoudi, Amar, 2019. "Detecting the Effects of Early-Life Exposures: Why Fecundity Matters," SocArXiv x4zm6, Center for Open Science.
    12. Gretchen Cusick & Jennifer Gaul-Stout & Reiko Kakuyama-Villaber & Olivia Wilks & Yasmin Grewal-Kök & Clare Anderson, 2024. "A Systematic Review of Economic and Concrete Support to Prevent Child Maltreatment," Societies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-21, September.
    13. Dylan S Connor & Aleksander K BergArizona & Tom Kemeny & Peter J Kedron, 2024. "Who gets left behind by left behind places?," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 17(1), pages 37-58.
    14. Vikram, Kriti & Chindarkar, Namrata, 2020. "Bridging the gaps in cognitive achievement in India: The crucial role of the integrated child development services in early childhood," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    15. Jenna Nobles & Amar Hamoudi, 2019. "Detecting the Effects of Early-Life Exposures: Why Fecundity Matters," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 38(6), pages 783-809, December.
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    17. Li, Xuemei & Saitone, Tina L. & Sexton, Richard J., 2018. "Electronic Benefit Transfer and the Women, Infants and Children Participation Rate: Evidence from Oklahoma EBT Transition," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 273850, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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