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Won't Somebody Please Think of the Children? - A Study Examining If and How Adolescent Health Is Affected by the Business Cycle

Wiklund, Hannes LU (2023) NEKP01 20231
Department of Economics
Abstract
This thesis examines the impact of macroeconomic shocks on adolescents health, specifically those aged between 14 and 18 years. Using data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) covering U.S. states from 1999 to 2019, this study investigates various health outcomes and behavioural variables among high-school students. A two-way fixed effects model, that accounts for state- and year-fixed effects, is employed to account for possible confounding factors between states. The findings indicate that physical health outcomes for adolescents tend to move counter-cyclically. During recessions, height-adjusted weight and the likelihood of being obese or overweight decrease. However, mental health displays a slight tendency to move... (More)
This thesis examines the impact of macroeconomic shocks on adolescents health, specifically those aged between 14 and 18 years. Using data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) covering U.S. states from 1999 to 2019, this study investigates various health outcomes and behavioural variables among high-school students. A two-way fixed effects model, that accounts for state- and year-fixed effects, is employed to account for possible confounding factors between states. The findings indicate that physical health outcomes for adolescents tend to move counter-cyclically. During recessions, height-adjusted weight and the likelihood of being obese or overweight decrease. However, mental health displays a slight tendency to move pro-cyclically, while the probability of being underweight is unaffected by the business cycle. Further, the results indicate that males and females exhibit similar effects regarding weight outcomes. However, in contrast to males, females display a significant pro-cyclical pattern in attempted suicide. Furthermore, the age of respondents was found to be insignificant in nearly all point estimates, raising doubts regarding the hypothesis that parental supervision is the channel through which the business cycle affects youth health. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Wiklund, Hannes LU
supervisor
organization
course
NEKP01 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Health, Mental health, Health economics, Macroeconomic conditions, Recessions, Adolescent
language
English
id
9130261
date added to LUP
2023-09-04 09:08:56
date last changed
2023-09-04 09:08:56
@misc{9130261,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the impact of macroeconomic shocks on adolescents health, specifically those aged between 14 and 18 years. Using data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) covering U.S. states from 1999 to 2019, this study investigates various health outcomes and behavioural variables among high-school students. A two-way fixed effects model, that accounts for state- and year-fixed effects, is employed to account for possible confounding factors between states. The findings indicate that physical health outcomes for adolescents tend to move counter-cyclically. During recessions, height-adjusted weight and the likelihood of being obese or overweight decrease. However, mental health displays a slight tendency to move pro-cyclically, while the probability of being underweight is unaffected by the business cycle. Further, the results indicate that males and females exhibit similar effects regarding weight outcomes. However, in contrast to males, females display a significant pro-cyclical pattern in attempted suicide. Furthermore, the age of respondents was found to be insignificant in nearly all point estimates, raising doubts regarding the hypothesis that parental supervision is the channel through which the business cycle affects youth health.}},
  author       = {{Wiklund, Hannes}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Won't Somebody Please Think of the Children? - A Study Examining If and How Adolescent Health Is Affected by the Business Cycle}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}