Abstract
ObjectivesThis longitudinal study examines children’s health-related characteristics in relation to discrepancies between their educational potential assessed by a cognitive test in primary school at age 11 and their attained secondary school level at age 14.MethodsData were used from 1510 participants of the Dutch PIAMA (Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy) birth cohort. Multiple multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the associations between indicators of physical health, psychosocial health, lifestyle, sleeping patterns and stressful life events and attending a higher or lower level of secondary education than indicated by the cognitive test.ResultsWe found no evidence that physical health contributes to discrepancies between the potential and attained level of secondary education, but attention disorders and stressful life events (nasty experiences and parents’ divorce) were associated with educational attainment below children’s potential level. Furthermore, substance use (alcohol, drugs and smoking) were strongly associated with attending a lower level of secondary education than expected (odds ratios from 2.2 (CI: 1.5–3.3) to 5.0 (CI: 2.8–8.7)).ConclusionIn this general population study, attention disorders, stressful life events and especially substance use seemed to be more important than physical health for the discrepancy between expected and attained level of secondary education. The longitudinal design of the present study and the broad range of health-related factors that were studied, adds insights to the process of health-selection.
Highlights
It is well recognized that educational achievement has far-reaching consequences for health later in life [1,2]
We found that children with Central Institute for Test Development (Cito)-test scores and children without Cito-test scores were very similar with respect to the health and lifestyle factors that were associated with educational achievement
Our results suggest that children are able to cope well enough with common physical health problems to avoid a negative impact of illness on their attained level of secondary education compared to their potential as assessed at the end of primary school
Summary
It is well recognized that educational achievement has far-reaching consequences for health later in life [1,2]. In the Netherlands, as in other countries, life expectancy increases with attained level of education [3,4]. It is of great importance, both for their future socioeconomic position and for their later health, that children complete the level of education that matches their abilities (their educational potential). It is important to understand the range of factors that can positively or negatively affect children’s chances to fulfill their educational potential. A better understanding of the role of health-related factors may facilitate the development of interventions that create a breakthrough in the vicious circle of poorer health status affecting educational achievement affecting health status later in life
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