Longterm Health and GPA

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 1:45 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Approaches and Challenges to Youth Health and Well-Being

Abstract

This study investigated the extent to which long-term physical health problems (LTHP) are associated with academic achievement. While there has been a justified focus on mental health in students, there has been little attention on how physical health conditions impact academic outcomes. Multiple linear regression using survey data from four administrations of a triennial statewide survey from 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022 was conducted to determine if LTHP and its interaction with relevant predictors had a consistent effect on academic achievement across time. Results showed that LTHP generally had no impact on academic outcomes except in 2022. While significant interaction effects were observed, none of the effects were consistent across administrations. Implications for policy are presented.

Authors

• Christian Vazquez, University of Texas - Arlington

• Carlos Chavez, University of Minnesota

• Michael C. Rodriguez, University of Minnesota