Concussions and the Classroom: The Effect of an Acute Health Shock on Student Academic and Behavioral Outcomes

Joseph Eshun, Timothy Halliday, Rachel Inafuku, Jamie Higa, Troy Furutani, Nathan Murata and Erik Swartz
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Joseph Eshun: University of Hawai‘i at MÄ noa
Rachel Inafuku: University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization
Jamie Higa: University of Hawai‘i at MÄ noa, HCAMP
Troy Furutani: University of Hawai‘i at MÄ noa, HCAMP
Nathan Murata: University of Hawai‘i at MÄ noa, HCAMP
Erik Swartz: University of Hawai‘i at MÄ noa, HCAMP

No 2026-1, Working Papers from University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Abstract: Concussions are among the most common acute health shocks experienced by adolescents, yet little is known about their causal effects on educational outcomes. We study the impact of diagnosed sports-related concussions on academic performance and behavioral incidents using a unique administrative dataset linking the Hawai‘i Department of Education to a statewide concussion surveillance system. Leveraging the longitudinal structure of the data, we implement a staggered difference-in-differences design that compares students who sustain concussions at different points in time. We find that a first concussion leads to a 0.14-point decline in science GPA but has little effect on other academic or behavioral outcomes. We further examine the consequences of repeated concussions and find that students who sustain multiple concussions experience a 0.359-point decline in mathematics GPA and a 0.276 increase in behavioral offenses following their second injury. These findings suggest that the persistent educational consequences of an isolated concussion are relatively modest, whereas repeated concussion exposure leads to larger and broader disruptions in students’ academic performance and behavior.

Keywords: Concussion; Student Achievement; Administrative Data; Human Capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I21 I24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33 pages
Date: 2026-09
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