Maternal health and child socio-emotional development: findings from the growing up in New Zealand study

Yanshu Huang, Juliana Silva-Goncalves (), Jack Lam and Janeen Baxter
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Yanshu Huang: Institute for Social Science Research
Juliana Silva-Goncalves: The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course
Jack Lam: The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life Course
Janeen Baxter: Institute for Social Science Research

Review of Economics of the Household, 2025, vol. 23, issue 2, No 1, 443-503

Abstract: Abstract We study the influence of maternal chronic illness and disability on the socio-emotional development of children across early to mid-childhood using the Growing Up in New Zealand study. Controlling for a host of relevant maternal, household and child characteristics, our results show a negative link between maternal chronic illness and disability and child socio-emotional outcomes at eight years of age. At earlier ages, the evidence of a relationship between maternal health and child socio-emotional outcomes is weaker. We also find that maternal parenting style and depression mediate the relationship between maternal chronic illness and disability and child socio-emotional outcomes. Specifically, parenting style mediates the relationship between maternal chronic illness and disability and child socio-emotional outcomes in early childhood, at age 2, but not at age 5, and for boys after commencement of formal education, at age 8. In contrast, maternal depression consistently mediates the relationship between maternal chronic illness and disability and child socio-emotional outcomes from early to mid-childhood, and for both boys and girls. Our findings stress the need to better understand both direct and indirect effects of maternal health on the formation of skills in childhood that influence future life chances.

Keywords: Maternal chronic illness; Maternal disability; Maternal depression; Child socio-emotional outcomes; Parenting style (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I14 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11150-024-09753-2

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