Family Structure, Family Stability and Early Child Wellbeing

Terry-Ann Craigie, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn and Jane Waldfogel
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Terry-Ann Craigie: Princeton University
Jeanne Brooks-Gunn: Columbia University
Jane Waldfogel: Columbia University

No 1275, Working Papers from Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Research on Child Wellbeing.

Abstract: This study exploits rich data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) to distinguish the effects of family structure at birth from family stability over time on child cognitive, socio-emotional and health outcomes. We define two models: one that measures family structure at birth only and a second that measures possible changes in family structure since birth. We find that both family structure and stability are important to all child outcomes but for family structure, the results are attenuated by child and demographic characteristics. Family stability effects by contrast, remain significant even after these controls are included and also reveal that the cognitive, socio-emotional and health outcomes of children born to married or cohabiting parents are more adversely affected by changes in family structure over time.

Keywords: Asthma; Cognitive Ability; Behavioral Problems; Family Structure; Family Stability and Obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D10 D60 I10 I38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-11
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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