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Abstract
Background
Several studies have established that parental education (as a
proxy measure of socio-economics status) makes a lasting
impact on children’s health in a life course perspective,
contributing to higher morbidity and mortality. Much less is
known, however, of the contribution of health to school
performance and subsequent educational achievements. The
aim of this study was to examine the impact of health measures
on school performance at the end of compulsory school
(9 years of school).
Methods
Information from a birth cohort study of adolescents born
in 1989 (n = 3058) living in Ringkoebing County, Denmark in
2004 was collected from questionnaires. Participants’ childhood
health was obtained from questionnaires to their parents
at the same time. Information on grades in Danish spelling,
oral Danish and written math was collected at the end of
compulsory school (1 year after baseline). Information on
social Background of the participants (e.g. household income,
parents’ highest education, etc.) was derived from a national
register.
Results
The results indicate that poor health leads to lower grades
in all three skills examined. Participants indicating poor selfrated
health at the age of 14 years has between 0.27 [95%
confidence interval (CI) 0.13 to 0.40] and 0.34 (95% CI
0.21 to 0.48) lower grades, adjusted for a range of other
factors influencing school performance. Specific symptoms
leading to poorer school performance includes frequent
headaches, high levels of perceived stress and depressive
symptoms. If parents report health problems for the
participant between ages 7 and 14, grades decrease with 0.89
(95% CI 0.44 to 1.32).
Conclusions
Frequent headache, perceived stress and depressive
symptoms contributes to lower grades at the end of compulsory
school, thereby indicating that health may affect social
mobility in the long run by lowering the chances of performing
adequately in school. This emphasizes the need to provide
more assistance for pupils with different types of health
problems.
Several studies have established that parental education (as a
proxy measure of socio-economics status) makes a lasting
impact on children’s health in a life course perspective,
contributing to higher morbidity and mortality. Much less is
known, however, of the contribution of health to school
performance and subsequent educational achievements. The
aim of this study was to examine the impact of health measures
on school performance at the end of compulsory school
(9 years of school).
Methods
Information from a birth cohort study of adolescents born
in 1989 (n = 3058) living in Ringkoebing County, Denmark in
2004 was collected from questionnaires. Participants’ childhood
health was obtained from questionnaires to their parents
at the same time. Information on grades in Danish spelling,
oral Danish and written math was collected at the end of
compulsory school (1 year after baseline). Information on
social Background of the participants (e.g. household income,
parents’ highest education, etc.) was derived from a national
register.
Results
The results indicate that poor health leads to lower grades
in all three skills examined. Participants indicating poor selfrated
health at the age of 14 years has between 0.27 [95%
confidence interval (CI) 0.13 to 0.40] and 0.34 (95% CI
0.21 to 0.48) lower grades, adjusted for a range of other
factors influencing school performance. Specific symptoms
leading to poorer school performance includes frequent
headaches, high levels of perceived stress and depressive
symptoms. If parents report health problems for the
participant between ages 7 and 14, grades decrease with 0.89
(95% CI 0.44 to 1.32).
Conclusions
Frequent headache, perceived stress and depressive
symptoms contributes to lower grades at the end of compulsory
school, thereby indicating that health may affect social
mobility in the long run by lowering the chances of performing
adequately in school. This emphasizes the need to provide
more assistance for pupils with different types of health
problems.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 11 Dec 2009 |
| Publication status | Published - 11 Dec 2009 |
Projects
- 1 Finished