The downward spiral of mental disorders and educational attainment: A systematic review on early school leaving

Article; Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Adolescent; Child; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Schools; Student Dropouts

Abstract :

[en] Background: Most psychiatric disorders present symptom patterns that cause severe impairment on the emotional, cognitive and social level. Thus, adolescents who suffer from a mental disorder risk finding themselves in a downward spiral caused by the reciprocal association of psychological symptoms and negative school experiences that may culminate in early school leaving. In addition to previous collective work that mainly focused on school refusing behaviour among children and was presented as an expert's opinion, the following systematic review fills the knowledge gap by providing a structured overview of the bidirectional association between mental health and secondary school dropout based on a sound methodology and with a particular focus on mediating factors.Methods: Four electronic databases were searched from January 1990 until June 2014. Selected references were assessed for study details, main results, mediating factors and methodological limitations. Standardized risk of bias assessment was conducted. Results: Mood and anxiety disorders seemed to have a less consequential direct effect on early school leaving than substance use and disruptive behaviour disorders. The association between externalizing disorders and educational attainment was even stronger when the disorder occurred early in life. On the other hand, internalizing disorders were reported to develop as a consequence of school dropout. Only few studies had addressed gender differences, with discrepant results. Socio-economic background, academic achievement and family support were identified as significant mediating factors of the association between mental disorders and subsequent educational attainment. Conclusions: Findings suggested a strong association between mental health and education, in both directions. However, most studies focused on mediating factors that could not be targeted by intervention programs. © 2014 Esch et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Disciplines :

Psychiatry

Author, co-author :

Esch, P.; Centre for Health Studies, Centre de Recherche Public de la Sante´, Rue Thomas Edison 1 A-B, Strassen 1445, Luxembourg, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Lie`ge, Avenue de l'Hoˆpital 13, Lie`ge 4000, Belgium

Bocquet, V.; Competence Centre of Methodology and Statistics, Centre de Recherche Public de la Sante´, Rue Thomas Edison 1 A-B, Strassen 1445, Luxembourg

Pull, C.; Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Rue Ernest Barble´ 4, Luxembourg 1210, Luxembourg

Couffignal, S.; Centre for Health Studies, Centre de Recherche Public de la Sante´, Rue Thomas Edison 1 A-B, Strassen 1445, Luxembourg

Lehnert, T.; Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier du Kirchberg, Rue Edward Steichen 9, Luxembourg 2540, Luxembourg

Graas, M.; Centre Hospitalier Neuro-Psychiatrique, Avenue des Allie´s 17, Ettelbruck 9002, Luxembourg

Fond-Harmant, L.; Centre for Health Studies, Centre de Recherche Public de la Sante´, Rue Thomas Edison 1 A-B, Strassen 1445, Luxembourg

ANSSEAU, Marc ; Université de Liège - ULg

Language :

English

Title :

The downward spiral of mental disorders and educational attainment: A systematic review on early school leaving

Publication date :

2014

Journal title :

BMC Psychiatry

eISSN :

1471-244X

Publisher :

BioMed Central Ltd.

Volume :

Issue :

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 01 May 2021

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Scopus citations^®

242

Scopus citations^®
without self-citations

242

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172

OpenAlex citations

295

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