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Maternal employment and overweight children

Author

Listed:
  • Patricia M. Anderson
  • Kristin F. Butcher
  • Phillip B. Levine

Abstract

This paper seeks to determine whether a causal relationship exists between maternal employment and childhood overweight. We use matched mother/child data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and employ econometric techniques to control for observable and unobservable differences across individuals and families that may influence both children's weight and their mothers' work patterns. Our results indicate that a child is more likely to be overweight if his/her mother worked more hours per week over the child's life. Analyses by subgroups show that it is higher socioeconomic status mothers whose work intensity is particularly deleterious for their children's overweight status.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia M. Anderson & Kristin F. Butcher & Phillip B. Levine, 2002. "Maternal employment and overweight children," Working Paper Series WP-02-10, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
  • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedhwp:wp-02-10
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hotz, V.J. & Kilburn, M.R., 1995. "Regulating Child Care: The Effetcs of State Regulation on Child Care Demand and its Cost," Papers 95-03, RAND - Labor and Population Program.
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    3. Wolfe, W.S. & Campbell, C.C. & Frongillo Jr., E.A. & Haas, J.D. & Melnik, T.A., 1994. "Overweight schoolchildren in New York State: Prevalence and characteristics," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 84(5), pages 807-813.
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    5. Zimmerman, David J, 1992. "Regression toward Mediocrity in Economic Stature," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 82(3), pages 409-429, June.
    6. John Cawley, 2000. "Body Weight and Women's Labor Market Outcomes," NBER Working Papers 7841, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Employment (Economic theory); Overweight children;

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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