Fetal Origins of Mental Health: Evidence from Africa
Achyuta Adhvaryu, James Fenske, Namrata Kala, Anant Nyshadham
Abstract
Mental health disorders represent a substantial portion of the global disease burden, and the treatment gap is higher in developing countries. Accounting for location and year-of-birth fixed effects and using data on 19 African countries, we find temperature shocks in utero increase depressive symptoms in adulthood. Effects are present for several depressive symptoms and are greatest in younger cohorts.
Topics & Concepts
Mental healthDeveloping countryIn uteroDepressive symptomsDeveloped countryMedicineFetusPsychiatryPsychologyPregnancyEconomicsEnvironmental healthEconomic growthAnxietyPopulationBiologyGeneticsGlobal Maternal and Child HealthPoverty, Education, and Child WelfareDemographic Trends and Gender Preferences