Socioemotional Development during Adolescence: Evidence from a Large Macro Shock

Ghazala Azmat, Katja Kaufmann and Yasemin Özdemir ()

CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series from University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany

Abstract: We exploit a large quasi-exogenous shock to study the development of socioemotional skills during early adolescence and their links to long-term behavior and labor market outlook. Using novel, longitudinal, microdata on cohorts of East German adolescents before and after a large macro shock (the German Reunification), we causally estimate the impact on socioemotional skills (self-confidence and impulse control), finding negative effects in the short run. These effects are substantially larger among those affected by the shock in early adolescence (13-14 years old), relative to later adolescence (16-17 years old). Changes in socioemotional skills have a lasting (negative) impact on them as adults, especially among those affected early in their adolescence, in terms of externalizing behavior (e.g., physical fighting), behavioral control problems (i.e., substance abuse), internalizing behavior (i.e., mental health) and in their (labor-market) optimism and expectations. This study highlights the permanent effects of uncertainty on socioemotional skills during formative years.

Keywords: socioemotional skills; adolescence; behavior; health; labor market outlook. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D91 I12 I31 J13 J16 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 47
Date: 2024-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
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Related works:
Working Paper: Socioemotional Development During Adolescence: Evidence from a Large Macro Shock (2023)
Working Paper: Socioemotional Development During Adolescence: Evidence from a Large Macro Shock (2023)
Working Paper: Socioemotional Development During Adolescence: Evidence from a Large Macro Shock (2023)
Working Paper: Socioemotional Development during Adolescence: Evidence from a Large Macro Shock (2023)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bon:boncrc:crctr224_2024_506

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