The effect of breastfeeding on children's cognitive and noncognitive development

Cristina Borra, Maria Iacovou and Almudena Sevilla

Labour Economics, 2012, vol. 19, issue 4, 496-515

Abstract: This paper uses propensity score matching methods to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding and children's cognitive and noncognitive development. We find that breastfeeding for four weeks is positively and statistically significantly associated with higher cognitive test scores, by around one tenth of a standard deviation. The association between breastfeeding and noncognitive development is weaker, and is restricted to children of less educated mothers. We conclude that interventions which increase breastfeeding rates would improve not only children's health, but also their cognitive skills, and possibly also their noncognitive development.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Cognitive and noncognitive outcomes; Child development; ALSPAC (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (28)

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Working Paper: The Effect of Breastfeeding on Children's Cognitive and Noncognitive Development (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:labeco:v:19:y:2012:i:4:p:496-515

DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2012.05.007

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