Assessing the connection between health and education: Identifying potential leverage points for public health to improve school attendance

L.N. Gase, T. Kuo, K. Coller, L.R. Guerrero and M.D. Wong

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 9, e47-e54

Abstract: Objectives. We examined multiple variables influencing school truancy to identify potential leverage points to improve school attendance. Methods. A cross-sectional observational design was used to analyze innercity data collected in Los Angeles County, California, during 2010 to 2011. We constructed an ordinal logistic regression model with cluster robust standard errors to examine the association between truancy and various covariates. Results. The sample was predominantly Hispanic (84.3%). Multivariable analysis revealed greater truancy among students (1) with mild (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22, 2.01) and severe (AOR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.04, 3.13) depression (referent: no depression), (2) whose parents were neglectful (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.21, 4.03) or indulgent (AOR = 1.71; 95% CI = 1.04, 2.82; referent: authoritative parents), (3) who perceived less support from classes, teachers, and other students regarding college preparation (AOR = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.81, 0.95), (4) who had low grade point averages (AOR = 2.34; 95% CI = 1.49, 4.38), and (5) who reported using alcohol (AOR = 3.47; 95% CI = 2.34, 5.14) or marijuana (AOR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.06, 2.38) during the past month. Conclusions. Study findings suggest depression, substance use, and parental engagement as potential leverage points for public health to intervene to improve school attendance.

Keywords: addiction; adolescent; African American; age; article; child parent relation; cross-sectional study; demography; depression; ethnology; female; health behavior; Hispanic; human; male; public health; school; sex difference; socioeconomics; statistics; United States; urban population, Adolescent; African Americans; Age Factors; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Female; Health Behavior; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Los Angeles; Male; Parent-Child Relations; Public Health; Residence Characteristics; Schools; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; Urban Population (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.301977_1

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301977

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