The impact of birthweight and adolescent health on educational attainment |
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Authors: | Idunn Brekke Liza Reisel |
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Institution: | 1. Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing (Pilestredet), Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences;2. Institute for Social Research, Oslo, Norway |
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Abstract: | This article examines the relationship between birthweight, adolescent health (general health and psychological distress) and high school completion in Norway, using survey data linked to longitudinal registry data (n?=?5,354). The findings show that the positive association between birthweight and high school completion can be attributed to socioeconomic status. General adolescent health is explained by socioeconomic status combined with risk- and protective behavior. Psychological distress is mediated by having a close relationship with family and friends among the most affluent students, but not among the lower-income students. Among the lower-income students it was, instead, absence from school and feeling comfortable in class that mediated the association between psychological distress and high school completion, net of other factors. |
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Keywords: | adolescent health educational attainment upper-secondary education social inequality |
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