Abstract
BackgroundHealth in childhood and adolescence is a matter of contention. This article examines how infant and adolescent health act together with parental SES, health-related behaviour and academic factors to generate differences in the early life course with regard to later enrolment in higher education.MethodsWe used a questionnaire on health, The Oslo Health Study, which was linked to register data that provided detailed information on educational outcomes over time; and the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, which provided information on health at birth.ResultsIt was found in the unadjusted results that infant health measures had a positive association with enrolment in higher education. After adjustment for adolescent health, there was still evidence that infant health are associated with enrolment in higher education. However, this association disappeared when parental socio-economic status (SES) was included in the model. Health in adolescents remains a significant and strong predictor of enrolment in higher education after adjusting for parental SES. However, the relationship between adolescent health and enrolment in higher education was reduced and became nonsignificant when adjustments were made to the health behaviour of the adolescents and their relationship with their families. Future educational expectations and good grades in grade 10 are strong predictors of enrolment in higher education.ConclusionsThere are lower odds of enrolment in higher education for infants of low birthweight. However, this result seems to reflect the fact that parental SES correlate with both infant health and enrolment in higher education. Adolescent health are associated with enrolment in higher education, even after adjusting for parental SES. However, a considerable proportion of this association seems to be attributable to health-related behaviour and the relationship of the adolescent with his or her family.
Highlights
Health in childhood and adolescence is a matter of contention
Of those who started in higher education, there was a higher proportion of women and a lower proportion of second-generation immigrants, compared to the group who did not commence with higher education
Higher parental socio-economic status (SES) was found in those who enrolled in higher education
Summary
This article examines how infant and adolescent health act together with parental SES, health-related behaviour and academic factors to generate differences in the early life course with regard to later enrolment in higher education. Health in childhood and adolescence is a matter of contention. This is because it has consequences for the well-being of children and adolescents. Health problems have been linked to poor educational outcomes and have resulted in disadvantages throughout life [1]. Brekke BMC Public Health (2015) 15:619 negative consequences with respect to adult outcomes later result from poor early childhood health. Children with a higher SES might have access to better material health inputs due to better family finances. Parents with a higher SES might adopt a healthier lifestyle (e.g., smoke and drink less) which, in turn, affects children’s health [13]
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