Ewa Jarosz|Alexi Gugushvili
Parental education, health literacy and children’s adult body height
University of Oxford|Institute of Philosophy and Sociology|Polish Academy of Sciences|Oxford Policy Management|University of Oxford|Erasmus University Rotterdam
abstract human anthropometric traits significantly determined genetic factors also affected individuals early life environment adults body height valid indicator living conditions childhood parental education shown one key covariates individuals health height childhood adulthood parental functional literacy demonstrated another important determinant child health largely overlooked studies height objective study analyse associations parents education functional literacy childrens adult body height study used data 39240 individuals 2016 wave nationally representative life transition survey lits conducted 34 countries southern eastern europe middle east central asia using linear poisson models regression adjustment treatment estimators multilevel mixedeffects linear regressions study analysed links mothers fathers educational attainment parental functional literacy measured number books childhood home childrens adult height models also included individual contextual covariates height results demonstrated mothers educational attainment parental functional literacy independent associations childrens adult body height sufficient literacy skills parent may positive effect childrens growth even parental education low associations remained significant across time study also provides evidence widening height gap men born period systemic transition postsocialist societies may suggest increase social differences early living standards