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The relationship between school absence, academic performance, and asthma status.
Sheniz Moonie1, David A Sterling, Larry W Figgs
1Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Public Health, 4505 Maryland Parkway Box 453064, Las Vegas, NV 89154-3064, USA. sheniz.moonie@unlv.edu
The Journal of School Health
|March 1, 2008
Summary
Student absenteeism negatively impacts academic performance. While children with asthma generally perform similarly to their peers, persistent asthma may be linked to lower test scores and increased absences.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Educational Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Asthma is a common childhood condition associated with increased school absenteeism.
- Absenteeism can negatively affect academic achievement, psychological, and social adjustment.
- The relationship between asthma, absenteeism, and academic performance in school-aged children requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of absenteeism on standardized test performance in an urban school district.
- To investigate the association between asthma, asthma severity, and academic achievement.
- To explore the relationship between asthma, absenteeism, and academic outcomes in predominantly African American students.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 3812 students aged 8-17.
- Utilized data from the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) standardized test (2002-2003).
- Adjusted for relevant covariates in the analysis.
Main Results:
- A significant inverse relationship was observed between absenteeism and MAP test performance across all students.
- No significant overall difference in academic achievement was found between students with and without asthma.
- Students with persistent asthma showed a trend towards lower scores and increased absenteeism compared to those with mild intermittent asthma.
Conclusions:
- Absenteeism significantly hinders academic achievement in urban school children.
- Children with asthma, as a group, do not perform differently academically than their peers without asthma.
- Persistent asthma may be associated with poorer academic outcomes and higher absenteeism, warranting further research.
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