Early life shocks and mental health: The long-term effect of war in Vietnam

Saurabh Singhal

No wp-2018-65, WIDER Working Paper Series from World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER)

Abstract: This paper provides causal evidence on early-life exposure to war on mental health status in adulthood. Using an instrumental variable strategy, the evidence indicates that early-life exposure to bombing during the American war in Vietnam has long-term effects. A one percent increase in bombing intensity during 1965-75 increases the likelihood of severe mental distress in adulthood by 16 percentage points (or approximately 50 percent of the mean) and this result is robust to a variety of sensitivity checks. The negative effects of war are similar for both men and women.

Keywords: Health outcomes; War; Mental health; Conflict (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (21)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Early life shocks and mental health: The long-term effect of war in Vietnam (2019)
Working Paper: Early life shocks and mental health: The long-term effect of war in Vietnam (2018)
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