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Trajectories of Early Childhood Skill Development and Maternal Mental Health

Author

Listed:
  • Dilek Sevim
  • Victoria Baranov
  • Sonia Bhalotra
  • Joanna Maselko
  • Pietro Biroli

Abstract

We investigate the impacts of a perinatal psychosocial intervention on trajectories of maternal mental health and child skills, from birth to age 3. We find improved maternal mental health and functioning (0.17–0.29 SD), modest but imprecisely estimated improvements in parenting (0.07–0.11 SD), and transitory improvements in child socio-emotional development (0.06–0.39 SD). The intervention had negligible influence on physical health and cognition. Estimates of a skill production function reveal the intervention attenuated the negative association between maternal depression and child outcomes, and it narrowed outcome gaps between mothers who were and were not depressed in pregnancy.

Suggested Citation

  • Dilek Sevim & Victoria Baranov & Sonia Bhalotra & Joanna Maselko & Pietro Biroli, 2024. "Trajectories of Early Childhood Skill Development and Maternal Mental Health," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 59(S), pages 365-401.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:59:y:2024:i:s:p:s365-s401
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.1222-12693R3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Emilia Del Bono & Josh Kinsler & Ronni Pavan, 2026. "Skill formation and the trouble with child noncognitive skill measures," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 17(1), pages 135-172, January.
    2. Wang, Dongqin & Shen, Minghong & Wu, Xiaogang, 2026. "Socioeconomic status and inequalities in early development of non-cognitive skills: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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