Relative Age Effects on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Educational Achievement: A Longitudinal UK Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Being among the youngest in a school class increases the risk for worse educational outcomes and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, but questions remain about the nature and persistence of such effects. We investigated this "relative age effect" on educational achievement at age 15 to 16 years and on ADHD symptoms from age 7 to age 21 years. Furthermore, we examined whether being young-in-class is linked to a greater reduction in ADHD symptoms from childhood to adulthood and a lower genetic propensity to ADHD.

Method

We identified 3,928 young-in-class and 4,580 old-in-class participants from the Twins' Early Development Study. Educational achievement was measured with mathematics and English examination grades at age 15 to 16 years, and ADHD

SUBMITTER: Deng Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11562434 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature