The Effects of Early Pregnancy on Education, Physical Health and Mental Distress: Evidence from Mexico

Pinar Gunes and Magda Tsaneva

No 2016-14, Working Papers from University of Alberta, Department of Economics

Abstract: This paper estimates the effects of early pregnancy on education, labor force participation, physical and mental health, and preventive health behaviors of young girls in Mexico. In order to overcome the selection bias, this paper employs a propensity score matching analysis using a nationally representative longitudinal data from the Mexican Family Life Survey. In the short run, early pregnancy increases the probability of being overweight and anemic, and reduces physical activity; however, it does not affect mental health. The results also demonstrate that early pregnancy increases the probability of dropping out of high school and reduces labor force participation. Finally, the effect on being overweight operate through reduced education and physical activity, and moreover, the effect persists in the long run.

Keywords: Early Pregnancy; Human Capital; Mexico (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I10 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 36 pages
Date: 2016-09-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-hea and nep-lab
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ris:albaec:2016_014

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