In Simple Words
When a house captain recovers their energy and clarity, they naturally spend more time organizing household chores and supporting the younger family members with their schoolwork and routines.
Adults with children older than twelve
- Neither study intervention
- Group used for comparison
- Psychiatric care
- Child investment 0.44 standard deviations higher
After the program psychiatric care raised the child-investment index by 0.44 standard deviations for children older than twelve. This is a subgroup result, not proof of a difference from younger children. Post-program, children older than twelve. Under-twelve effects were not clear; no interaction test reported. Other treatment arms omitted.
See source →Research question
Depression symptoms among adults reduce productivity and lower an individual's willingness to invest in their children's development. Treating adult depression can generate positive intergenerational spillovers that enhance educational engagement for adolescent children.
Participants
Households of N = 1,000 depressed adults (86 percent women) recruited from 506 villages near Bangalore, India.
Study Design
Randomized evaluation measuring a child human capital investment index comprising school enrollment, attendance, homework time, and labor participation at 16 and 26 months post-recruitment.
Results
Psychiatric Care for depressed adults increased the child human capital investment index for children older than twelve by 0.44 standard deviations compared to the comparison group post-program, whereas impacts on children under twelve were statistically insignificant.
Takeaway
Incorporate tracking of adolescent school attendance and homework support into adult depression treatment programs to capture intergenerational human capital benefits.