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Family-level intelligence and maternal health: A cross-cohort, cross-generational longitudinal study using the NLSY

Author

Listed:
  • Linda, Wänström
  • Patrick, O'’Keefe
  • Graciela, Muniz-Terrera
  • Stacey, Voll
  • Mann Frank, D.
  • Sean, Clouston
  • Scott, Hofer
  • Rodgers Joseph, L.

Abstract

This study examines the association between family-level intelligence metrics, and maternal health outcomes in middle age, as captured in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Building on past research documenting links between maternal intelligence and health, our study expands the inquiry by exploring how both variations and trends in family-level intelligence are associated with maternal middle-age health. We use multilevel modeling analysis to extract family intelligence levels and growth scores from children's Peabody Individual Achievement Test of math, reading recognition and reading comprehension. We use two time-points, ten years apart, to extract levels and growth scores from maternal middle-aged health data. We then use canonical correlation analysis to examine the associations between family intelligence and maternal health. Our results show a positive association between family cognition and maternal health. Families with greater math and reading recognition levels experience better levels of maternal health outcomes. Patterns also suggest that low levels in math and reading comprehension are related to larger declines in physical health. We discuss implications of intellectual development in the family, noting that higher family intelligence not only holds intrinsic value but also is associated with improved maternal health outcomes. We discuss a possible “Flynn effect transfer” within the family context, where intellectual advancement correlates with positive health trajectories in midlife mothers. Future research could extend these insights to explore further downstream effects on both maternal and child well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Linda, Wänström & Patrick, O'’Keefe & Graciela, Muniz-Terrera & Stacey, Voll & Mann Frank, D. & Sean, Clouston & Scott, Hofer & Rodgers Joseph, L., 2025. "Family-level intelligence and maternal health: A cross-cohort, cross-generational longitudinal study using the NLSY," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intell:v:113:y:2025:i:c:s0160289625000698
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2025.101966
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wongupparaj, Peera & Wongupparaj, Rangsirat & Morris, Robin G. & Kumari, Veena, 2023. "Seventy years, 1000 samples, and 300,000 SPM scores: A new meta-analysis of Flynn effect patterns," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    2. Ian J. Deary & W. David Hill & Catharine R. Gale, 2021. "Intelligence, health and death," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(4), pages 416-430, April.
    3. Rodgers, Joseph Lee, 2023. "Eleven articles and 27 authors pay tribute to James Flynn: A summary and critique of special issue articles on the Flynn effect," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    4. Eisenhower, Abbey Severance & Baker, Bruce L. & Blacher, Jan, 2009. "Children's delayed development and behavior problems: Impact on mothers' perceived physical health across early childhood," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 89-99, January.
    5. Sean A. P. Clouston & Graciela Muniz Terrera & Joseph Lee Rodgers & Patrick O'Keefe & Frank D. Mann & Nathan A. Lewis & Linda Wänström & Jeffrey Kaye & Scott M. Hofer, 2021. "Cohort and Period Effects as Explanations for Declining Dementia Trends and Cognitive Aging," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 47(3), pages 611-637, September.
    6. Rodgers, Joseph Lee & O'Keefe, Patrick, 2023. "A synthetic theory to integrate and explain the causes of the Flynn effect: The Parental Executive Model," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
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