Parent Education and Adolescent Health Outcomes: The Potential Role of Adolescent Academic Intention

Parental educational attainment significantly shapes child socioeconomic status, potentially influencing various aspects of adolescent health. This study aimed to uncover the relationships between parental education and self-reported adolescent health outcomes, including overall health, mental well-being, and body mass index (BMI). Analyzing data from 1,448 participants in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, we identified notable associations. Our findings revealed that higher maternal and paternal education correlated with reduced odds of adolescent obesity. Furthermore, increased adolescent academic intention was associated with better overall and mental health in adolescents. Notably, it also played a mediating role in lowering adolescent BMI, thereby potentially explaining the association between parent education and adolescent BMI category (overweight vs. obese). These findings emphasize the significant impact of both parent education and adolescent academic intention on adolescent health. Future research should explore interventions leveraging academic intention to positively influence the health trajectory of adolescents.