Does Grief Transfer across Generations? Bereavements during Pregnancy and Child Outcomes

Using population data from Norway, we examine the effects of stress induced by the death of the mother's parent during pregnancy on both the short-run and the long-run outcomes of the infant. Using a variety of empirical strategies to address the issue of nonrandom exposure to death during a pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American economic journal. Applied economics 2016-01, Vol.8 (1), p.193-223
Main Authors: Black, Sandra E., Devereux, Paul J., Salvanes, Kjell G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Birth weight
Children & youth
Death & dying
Economic theory
Economics
Families & family life
Famine
Fetuses
Hormones
Labor market
Mothers
Pregnancy
Psychology
Stress
Studies
Womens health
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Summary:Using population data from Norway, we examine the effects of stress induced by the death of the mother's parent during pregnancy on both the short-run and the long-run outcomes of the infant. Using a variety of empirical strategies to address the issue of nonrandom exposure to death during a pregnancy, we find small negative effects on birth outcomes. However, we find no evidence of adverse effects on adult outcomes. This suggests that, though there may be measurable effects on birth outcomes, acute psychological stressors during pregnancy have limited adverse consequences for the child's success in education and the labor market.
ISSN:1945-7782
1945-7790
DOI:10.1257/app.20140262