Cognitive function is linked to social background

Birth weight and social class at birth are both independently associated with cognitive function in children, with social background having a greater effect. Using data from the 1958 birth cohort, Jefferis and colleagues (p 305) found that cognitive test results and educational achievements improved with increasing birth weight. Social background also had a strong effect on maths scores. Although the overall effect size of differences in cognitive scores associated with birth weight is small for individuals, the impact in populations may be important.


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Relevant Article

Birth weight, childhood socioeconomic environment, and cognitive development in the 1958 British birth cohort study
Barbara J M H Jefferis, Chris Power, and Clyde Hertzman
BMJ 2002 325: 305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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