The Long-Term Impacts of Breastfeeding on Educational Attainment of Adults

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we examine the impact of breastfeeding on the likelihood of obtaining a college degree and attending graduate school. Using a doubly robust estimation technique, we find that having been breastfed is linked to an increased probability of obtaining a college degree, but its association with graduate school attendance is largely insignificant. The effect on college degree attainment is primarily concentrated among males, blacks, and whites. Investigating potential mechanisms, we find evidence that these effects are operating through the impact of breastfeeding on adolescents’ cognitive ability. JEL classification : I12, I23, J15, I18, C21