The effect of mental health in adolescence on educational attainment: School and neighborhood factors

Citation

Humensky, Jennifer (2008). The effect of mental health in adolescence on educational attainment: School and neighborhood factors. 2008 Add Health Users Conference. Bethesda, MD: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carolina Population Center.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine whether mental health problems in adolescence lead to decreased educational attainment, and whether this relationship is heterogeneous across schools and across neighborhoods. Population: Students interviewed in Waves I and III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a nationally representative survey of students in grades 7 12 at Wave I (1994 95). Wave III follow up was conducted in 2001 02. Methods: Mixed models with fixed effects, random intercepts and random coefficients on mental health variables (also known as two level cross classified hierarchical models) will be used. Results: Mental health problems in adolescence were associated with fewer years of schooling completed by Wave III. Statistically significant random intercepts indicate that educational attainment varies across schools and across neighborhoods, after controlling for observable school and neighborhood characteristics. The statistically significant random slope on mental health variables indicates that the relationship between adolescent mental health and subsequent educational attainment also varies across schools and across neighborhoods. Conclusions: The findings from this study indicate that some schools and neighborhoods are associated with better outcomes for troubled adolescents. This could ultimately lead to the design of targeted interventions for adolescents, particularly as schools can be an entry point for mental health treatment.

URL

https://addhealth.cpc.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/docs/news/users-conference/2008%20Add%20Health%20Users%20Conference%20Abstracts.pdf

Keyword(s)

Mental health education school

Reference Type

Conference proceeding

Book Title

2008 Add Health Users Conference

Author(s)

Humensky, Jennifer

Year Published

2008

Publisher

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carolina Population Center

City of Publication

Bethesda, MD

Reference ID

6324