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Dynamic and heterogeneous effects of sibling death on children’s outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Jason Fletcher

    (Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706; Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706)

  • Marian Vidal-Fernandez

    (School of Economics, University of Sydney, 2006 Sydney, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Families and Children over the Life Course, University of Sydney, 2006 Sydney, Australia; Institute of Labor Economics, 53113 Bonn, Germany)

  • Barbara Wolfe

    (Department of Economics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706; Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706; Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706)

Abstract

This paper explores the effects of experiencing the death of a sibling on children’s developmental outcomes. Recent work has shown that experiencing a sibling death is common and long-term effects are large. We extend understanding of these effects by estimating dynamic effects on surviving siblings' cognitive and socioemotional outcomes, as well as emotional and cognitive support by parents. Using the Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (CNLSY79), we find large initial effects on cognitive and noncognitive outcomes that decline over time. We also provide evidence that the effects are larger if the surviving child is older and less prominent if the deceased child was either disabled or an infant, suggesting sensitive periods of exposure. Auxiliary results show that parental investments in the emotional support of surviving children decline following the death of their child.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason Fletcher & Marian Vidal-Fernandez & Barbara Wolfe, 2018. "Dynamic and heterogeneous effects of sibling death on children’s outcomes," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 115(1), pages 115-120, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:115:y:2018:p:115-120
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    Cited by:

    1. Kati Kraehnert & Tilman Brück & Michele Di Maio & Roberto Nisticò, 2019. "The Effects of Conflict on Fertility: Evidence From the Genocide in Rwanda," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(3), pages 935-968, June.

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