Educational Attainment at Age 10-11 Years Predicts Health Risk Behaviors and Injury Risk During Adolescence

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the effect of educational attainment in primary school on later adolescent health.

Methods: Education data attainments at age 7 and 11 were linked with (1) primary and secondary care injury consultation/admissions and (2) the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey. Cox regression was carried out to examine if attainment in primary school predicts time to injury in adolescence.

Results: Pupils that achieve attainment at age 7 but not at age 11 (i.e., declining attainment over time in primary school) are more likely to have an injury during adolescence. These children are also more likely to self-report drinking in adolescence.

Conclusions: Interventions aimed at children with declining attainment in primary school could help to improve adolescent health.

Keywords: Adolescence; Children; Cohort; Educational attainment; Injury.