That's what friends are for: adolescent peer social status, health-related quality of life and healthcare costs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Social connections at all stages of life are essential for physical and mental well-being. Of particular importance are social relationships during adolescence that shape adult health behaviors and health outcomes.

Objective

The aim of this study was to estimate the association between adolescent peer status in school and later-life quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and healthcare costs.

Methods

This study used social network and health outcomes data from Wave I (ages 12-18 years) and Wave III (ages 18-24 years) of the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 10,578) to compare QALYs and healthcare costs (in 2012 US$) by adolescent peer status in US schools. Generalized linear models controlled for school fixed effects, individual and fami

SUBMITTER: Mundt MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3972808 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature