Polygenic Risk Score of Subjective Well-Being, Mental Health, and Academic Achievement in Childhood

• In Event: Early Educational Environments

Abstract

The positive relationship between child subjective well-being (SWB) and academic achievement is well documented. However, while prior research has primarily focused on child contemporaneous SWB and academic achievement relying on cross-sectional analyses, this study focuses on the possible link between a genetic predisposition to SWB and later academic achievement via mental health. Drawing on self-determination theory and mental health research, we hypothesize that child genetic liability to SWB, beyond academic abilities and personalities, may predict future academic performance via mental health. Findings from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study show that even after accounting for potential familiar bias, a genetic predisposition towards SWB can significantly predict child mental health outcomes, which in turn also affect academic achievement.

Authors

• Baeksan Yu, Gwangju National University of Education
  Presenting Author

• Espen Røysamb, University of Oslo
  Non-Presenting Author

• Soo Gyeong Ju, University of Pennsylvania
  Non-Presenting Author

• Eivind Ystrøm, University of Oslo
  Non-Presenting Author

• Ragnhild Bang Nes, University of Oslo
  Non-Presenting Author