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Poor adolescent health associated with limited education, employment
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Poor health during adolescence led to subordinate educational and employment outcomes as an adult, according to recent findings published in Pediatrics.
“Health in adolescence contributes to adult attainment and life chances,” Daniel R. Hale, PhD, from the University College London Institute of Child Health, and colleagues wrote. “The results suggest that investment in health may improve life chances and that policy interventions may improve outcomes for those with adolescent chronic conditions.”
Hale and colleagues conducted a systematic review to assess the relationship between poor adolescent health and adult accomplishments. The researchers reviewed 27 longitudinal studies, featuring 70 analyses that compared outcomes between adolescents with and without chronic health conditions. Fifteen studies were conducted in the United States, four in New Zealand, two in France, two in Sweden and one each in the United Kingdom, Finland, Canada and China. The unweighted mean age of participants across all studies was 14.6 years during adolescence and 23.1 years at adult follow-up.
Sixty-one analyses incorporated participants with mental health conditions, including depression (n = 27), conduct disorder (n = 13), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (n = 10), unspecified psychiatric disorders (n = 5), anorexia nervosa (n = 3) and anxiety disorders (n = 3). Nine analyses included participants with unspecified physical chronic conditions (n = 6) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n = 3).
Sixty-one analyses demonstrated that participants with poor health had subordinate educational and employment outcomes vs. healthy participants, and 28 analyses indicated significant associations. Three analyses also showed that participants with mental or physical disorders were more likely to have a lower income.
However, poor outcomes were more evident among those with mental health conditions vs. physical health conditions. Participants with depressive disorders, ADHD and conduct disorders were less likely to complete secondary education (pooled OR = 2.43; 95% CI, 1.68-3.53) and, in addition to those with anxiety disorders, postsecondary education (pooled OR = 1.61; 95% CI, 1.24-2.1). Participants with mental health disorders also were more likely to be unemployed (OR = 1.49; 95% CI, 1.25-1.77) and receive welfare (OR = 1.97; 95% CI, 1.56-2.49).
“Health appears to be both contributor to and outcome of low [socioeconomic status],” Hale and colleagues concluded. “Universal approaches to improving health and well-being in schools have been shown to boost attainments. Further work is needed to evaluate identification of and targeted early intervention for young people with mental health and other problems in schools.” – by Stephanie Viguers
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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