Advanced Maternal Age and Child Development: New Evidence From Germany

Rising maternal education and labor market participation have contributed to an increase in maternal age at first birth, linked to improved child abilities in the US. However, for Europe, where demographic dynamics and institutional settings differ, evidence remains limited. Focusing on the case of Germany, we investigate (1) whether higher maternal age benefits cognitive and non-cognitive child development and (2) which mechanisms explain this link.Drawing on theories of child development, human capital and concepts of maturity, we hypothesize that maternal age is positively associated with resources and maturity, fostering child development through improved learning environments. We use the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS-SC1; 2012-2021; N=2,387) to examine cognitive (math, vocabulary) and socio-emotional development up to age nine.Results from linear regressions show statistically significant, inversely U-shaped associations between maternal age at birth and both cognitive and social-emotional development. Enhanced cognitive abilities are largely attributable to improved parenting quality, well-being, and family resources. However, differences by maternal age are primarily driven by young mothers up to age 30. Furthermore, our results highlight that the association between maternal age and cognitive abilities is relevant exclusively for non-tertiary-educated mothers. Our findings contribute to the debate on advanced motherhood in aging societies.