Assessing the intergenerational impact of head start on offspring mental health in the United States.

Abstract

To estimate the association between maternal exposure to Head Start and offspring mental health. In this retrospective cohort study using a difference-in-differences approach, we leveraged the quasi-random rollout of Head Start in the United States in the 1960's and the timing of birth cohorts in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 to estimate associations between maternal Head Start exposure and offspring depression (among those aged 15+ in years 1994-2020) and suicidal ideation (among those aged 15+ in years 2012-2020). We examined heterogeneity by offspring race, ethnicity, and sex. Maternal Head Start exposure was associated with 0.79 (95% CI = 0.62, 0.99) times the risk of depression among female Hispanic/Latina offspring and 0.66 (95% CI = 0.50, 0.87) times the risk of depression among female White offspring. We found null associations for other races, ethnicities, and males, and for the outcome of suicidal ideation. Maternal Head Start exposure may meaningfully reduce risk of depression among Hispanic/Latina and White female offspring-groups who tend to report higher risk of depression. Findings suggest social policies that invest in the social, economic, and human capital of vulnerable children can improve mental health outcomes across generations.