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How do economic downturns affect the mental health of children? Evidence from the National Health Interview Survey

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  • Ezra Golberstein
  • Gilbert Gonzales
  • Ellen Meara

Abstract

Research linking economic conditions and health often does not consider children's mental health problems, which are the most common and consequential health issues for children and adolescents. We examine the effects of unemployment rates and housing prices on well‐validated child and adolescent mental health outcomes and use of special education services for emotional problems in the 2001–2013 National Health Interview Survey. We find that the effects of economic conditions on children's mental health are clinically and economically meaningful; children's mental health outcomes worsen as the economy weakens. The effects of economic conditions on child and adolescent mental health are pervasive, found in almost every subgroup that we examine. The use of special education services for emotional problems also rises when economic conditions worsen. Our analyses of possible mechanisms that link economic conditions to child mental health suggest that parental unemployment cannot fully explain the relationship between economic conditions and child mental health.

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  • Ezra Golberstein & Gilbert Gonzales & Ellen Meara, 2019. "How do economic downturns affect the mental health of children? Evidence from the National Health Interview Survey," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(8), pages 955-970, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:28:y:2019:i:8:p:955-970
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.3885
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    9. Kristin J. Kleinjans & Andrew Gill, 2022. "Intergenerational Transmission of Disadvantage: Negative Parental Selection, Economic Upheaval, and Smoking," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 799-814, December.
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    15. Laura Feiveson & Nils M. Gornemann & Julie L. Hotchkiss & Karel Mertens & Jae W. Sim, 2020. "Distributional Considerations for Monetary Policy Strategy," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2020-073, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
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    17. Sarah Foley & Farzaneh Badinlou & Karin C. Brocki & Matilda A. Frick & Luca Ronchi & Claire Hughes, 2021. "Family Function and Child Adjustment Difficulties in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-14, October.
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    19. Nazish Imran & Fauzia Naz & Muhammad Imran Sharif & Sumbul Liaqat & Musarrat Riaz & Abida Khawar & Muhammad Waqar Azeem, 2022. "Multidimensional impacts of coronavirus pandemic in adolescents in Pakistan: A cross sectional research," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-14, January.
    20. Alberto Forte & Massimiliano Orri & Martina Brandizzi & Cecilia Iannaco & Paola Venturini & Daniela Liberato & Claudia Battaglia & Isabel Nöthen-Garunja & Maria Vulcan & Asja Brusìc & Lauro Quadrana &, 2021. "“My Life during the Lockdown”: Emotional Experiences of European Adolescents during the COVID-19 Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-12, July.
    21. Zhang, Zihan & Kim, Jun Hyung, 2023. "The Inheritance of Historical Trauma: Intergenerational Effects of Early-Life Exposure to Famine on Mental Health," IZA Discussion Papers 16385, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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