School Absenteeism, Health-Related Quality of Life [HRQOL] and Happiness among Young Adults Aged 16–26 Years

Suzanne J. van den Toren, Amy van Grieken, Wico C. Mulder, Yvonne TM Vanneste, Marjolein Lugtenberg, Marlou LA de Kroon, Siok Swan Tan and Hein Raat
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Suzanne J. van den Toren: Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Amy van Grieken: Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Wico C. Mulder: Dutch Center for Youth Health (NCJ), 3527 GV Utrecht, The Netherlands
Yvonne TM Vanneste: Dutch Center for Youth Health (NCJ), 3527 GV Utrecht, The Netherlands
Marjolein Lugtenberg: Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Marlou LA de Kroon: Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 AB Groningen, The Netherlands
Siok Swan Tan: Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Hein Raat: Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-11

Abstract: This study examines the association between school absenteeism, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and happiness among young adults aged 16–26 years attending vocational education. Cross-sectional data from a survey among 676 young adults were analyzed. School absenteeism was measured by the self-reported number of sick days in the past eight weeks and hours of truancy in the past four weeks. HRQOL was measured by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey; physical and mental component summary scores were calculated. General happiness was assessed on a scale of 0–10, higher scores indicating greater happiness. Linear regression analyses were performed. The study population had a mean age of 18.5 years (SD 2.2); 26.1% were boys. Young adults with ≥5 sick days or ≥6 h of truancy reported lower mental HRQOL compared to young adults without sickness absence or truancy ( p < 0.05). Young adults with 1–4 and ≥5 sick days reported lower physical HRQOL compared to young adults who had not reported to be sick ( p < 0.05). Young adults with 1–5 h and ≥6 h of truancy reported higher physical HRQOL compared to young adults who were not truant ( p < 0.05). No associations were observed between school absence and happiness. Lower self-reported mental HRQOL was observed among young adults with more school absenteeism due to sickness or truancy. Sickness absence was additionally associated with lower physical HRQOL.

Keywords: school absence; truancy; sickness absence; health-related quality of life; happiness; vocational education; young adults (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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