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The Effects of Teenage Childbearing on Education, Physical Health, and Mental Distress: Evidence from Mexico

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  • Pinar Mine GUNES

    (University of Alberta)

  • Magda TSANEVA

    (Clark University)

Abstract

This paper estimates the effects of teenage childbearing on education, working, physical and mental health, and physical activity of young girls in Mexico using two waves of the nationally representative Mexican Family Life Survey. We employ a propensity score matching model that accounts for a rich set of baseline covariates that predict teenage childbearing to attempt to reduce the bias due to confounding variables associated with teenage childbearing. The results demonstrate that teenage childbearing is associated with an increase in the probability of being overweight, and reductions in physical activity and the probability of high school completion. Moreover, the results are consistent when we employ sibling fixed effects to account for unobservable family background.

Suggested Citation

  • Pinar Mine GUNES & Magda TSANEVA, 2020. "The Effects of Teenage Childbearing on Education, Physical Health, and Mental Distress: Evidence from Mexico," JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 86(2), pages 183-206, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ctl:louvde:v:86:y:2020:i:2:p:183-206
    DOI: 10.1017/dem.2020.2
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bounding; Early pregnancy; Health; Mexico; Propensity score;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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