Maternal Education and the Link Between Birth Timing and Children's School Readiness

• In Event: 516 - Section on Sociology of Population Paper Session. The Demography of Family Inequality

Abstract

This study explored whether mothers’ education magnified the benefits of their fertility delays for their children. We used multiple-group path modeling and data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey - Birth Cohort to assess whether and why the positive association between mothers’ age at first birth and children’s test scores was greater for children of college educated women than children of other women. Results revealed that older age at first birth was associated with higher math and reading test scores among the children of college educated women via their mothers’ higher income and cognitive support for children. These mediational paths were less pronounced among the children of high school educated women and were not observed among the children of high school dropouts. Thus, the potential for women’s delayed fertility to have benefits for their children’s early educational experiences appears to depend on their own educational attainment.

Authors

• Jennifer March Augustine, University of Houston

• Kate C. Prickett, University of Texas-Austin

• Sarah M. Kendig, University of Texas-Austin

• Robert Crosnoe, University of Texas-Austin