Intergenerational continuity and discontinuity in cognitive ability: the first offspring of the British 1946 birth cohort

摘要: Cognitive development in childhood is a key factor affecting adult life chances, including educational and occupational success. Intergenerational continuity in cognitive ability often observed. Thus the persistence of poor cognitive outcomes across generations may lead to ‘cycle disadvantage’ that difficult break. In this thesis, intergenerational associations between parents and first-born offspring were examined longitudinally. 1,690 members British 1946 birth cohort with at least one constituted study sample. Cognitive ability was measured age eight years offspring. Social mobility and parenting practices for their affects on transmission of cognitive across generations. Offspring who improved upon social class own fathers by time they aged 26, as well remained in non-manual class, had higher scores than those whose parents remained manual or showed negative intergenerational mobility. Upwardly mobile stable were also more likely use positive practices. Four measures parenting were shown mediate part relationship ability. The intellectual home environment, parental aspirations cognitive stimulation positively related outcomes second generation, while coercive discipline negatively associated ability. Path analyses revealed maternal education, but not occupation, an important predictor cognition. The attainment fathers indirectly influenced next generation through its effect on occupational class. For lowest highest scores, quality the intellectual environment enabled ‘escape’ replicate parental cognitive respectively. stimulation paternal helped offspring avoid repeating parents. These data add relatively few studies examine intergenerational continuity discontinuity results provide basis for understanding some processes which influence intergenerational relationships.