More popular because you’re older? Relative age effect on popularity among adolescents in class

Danelien A E van Aalst and Frank van Tubergen

PLOS ONE, 2021, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-14

Abstract: Previous studies have found a significant effect of pupil’s month of birth on their school- and sports performances. The current study investigates whether this so-called relative age effect also exists in a rather unexplored domain, namely popularity among adolescents in school classes. Whereas prior studies examined relative age related to the cut-off date at primary school entry, we also study possible relative age effects regarding the age composition within pupils’ current school class. Data are from nationally-representative surveys among 14–15 year-old pupils from the Netherlands, Sweden and England. Results indicate a statistically significant positive relation of both types of relative age with popularity status in classes. The relation of past relative age is particularly strong in England, which has a system of social promotion, whereas current relative age is strong in the Netherlands, with its system of grade retention. These findings underscore the importance of education policy.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0249336

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249336

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