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Maternal breastfeeding and children's cognitive development

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  • Koh, Kanghyock

Abstract

Do children with lower test scores benefit more from breastfeeding than those with higher scores? In this paper, I examine the distributional effects of maternal breastfeeding on the cognitive test scores of 11,544 children who were born in 2000 and 2001 in the United Kingdom using a semiparametric quantile regression model. I find evidence that maternal breastfeeding has larger positive impacts on children with lower test scores. Effects for children below the 20th percentile are about 2–2.5 times greater than those for children above the 80th percentile. I also find that these distributional effects are larger when the duration of breastfeeding is extended. One policy implication is that a public policy aims at promoting breastfeeding might narrow a disparity in children's cognition.

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  • Koh, Kanghyock, 2017. "Maternal breastfeeding and children's cognitive development," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 101-108.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:187:y:2017:i:c:p:101-108
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.06.012
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    Cited by:

    1. Chae, Minhee & Cai, Yong & Kim, Jun Hyung & Lavely, William, 2023. "Unintended Consequences of Family Planning Policies on the Breastfeeding Gap between Sons and Daughters," IZA Discussion Papers 16190, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Rothstein, Jessica D. & Caulfield, Laura E. & Broaddus-Shea, Elena T. & Muschelli, John & Gilman, Robert H. & Winch, Peter J., 2020. "“The doctor said formula would help me”: Health sector influences on use of infant formula in peri-urban Lima, Peru," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    3. Leiter, Valerie & Agiliga, Alexis & Kennedy, Evangeline & Mecham, Emma, 2022. "Pay at the pump?: Problems with electric breast pumps," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).

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