From illness to inactivity: Exploring the influence of physical diseases on youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training status in Europe: A systematic literature review

INTRODUCTION: In 2010, 33% of young Europeans (ages 15-29) were Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET), rising to 40 million by 2015. Those with disabilities or health challenges are 40% more likely to be NEET. Hence, we conducted a systematic search to identify health challenges as NEET risk factors.

METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across four databases on February 21, 2023, with an update on January 15, 2024. Data collected after 1980 were included. The main findings from this search concerning risk factors are summarized in a chart.

RESULTS: A total of 33,314 articles were screened, resulting in the inclusion of 32 articles in this review. The review identified multiple physical risk factors associated with NEET status, which were categorized into two primary domains: congenital conditions and birth-related factors, for example, factors encompassed neonatal life in utero and experiences related to birth, and health conditions during childhood and adolescence, for example, survivors of childhood cancer and other severe health conditions during childhood and adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight that varying congenital conditions and birth-related factors as well as diseases from childhood to adulthood challenges or even hinder educational and job market participation, this emphasizing the importance of targeted support for children facing health challenges. These findings highlight the immediate requirement for comprehensive interventions specifically designed for children and adolescents who are for example, preterm, have experienced severe illness, or are coping with chronic diseases. These interventions should address the challenges encountered by youth in NEET. However, limited evidence on the impact of health conditions on NEET status underscores the necessity for further research into both short- and long-term effects.