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Early maternal employment and non-cognitive outcomes in early childhood and adolescence: evidence from British birth cohort data

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  • Lekfuangfu, Warn N.
  • Powdthavee, Nattavudh
  • Clark, Andrew E.
  • Ward, George

Abstract

We analyse the relationship between early maternal employment and child emotional and behavioural outcomes in early childhood and adolescence. Using rich data from a cohort of children born in the UK in the early 1990s, we find little evidence of a strong statistical relationship between early maternal employment and any of the emotional outcomes. However, there is some evidence that children whose mother is in full-time employment at the 18th month have worse behavioural outcomes at ages 4, 7, and 12.We suggest that these largely insignificant results may in part be explained by mothers who return tofull-time work earlier being able to compensate their children: we highlight the role of fathers’ time investment and alternative childcare arrangements in this respect.

Suggested Citation

  • Lekfuangfu, Warn N. & Powdthavee, Nattavudh & Clark, Andrew E. & Ward, George, 2015. "Early maternal employment and non-cognitive outcomes in early childhood and adolescence: evidence from British birth cohort data," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 64990, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:64990
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Early maternal employment and non-cognitive outcomes in early childhood and adolescence: evidence from British birth cohort data
      by maximorossi in NEP-LTV blog on 2016-04-07 18:40:32

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    child outcomes; maternal employment; well-being; conduct; ALSPAC;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J6 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers

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