Young age at school entry and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder-related symptoms during primary school: results of a prospective cohort study conducted at German Rudolf Steiner Schools.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Young age at school entry (ASE) for students has been related to their impaired mental health in higher grades. To avoid the negative health consequences of young ASE, preschool examinations and individual school entry deferral for young children are routinely performed by some school authorities. We aimed to investigate whether ASE was associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related symptoms in pupils attending schools using a selective school enrolment procedure.

Design

Prospective open cohort study with baseline assessments at school entry and two follow-ups in the second and fourth grades.

Setting

Up to 128 Rudolf Steiner Schools (Waldorf Schools) located within Germany.

Participants

Of the 3079 children from whom data wer

SUBMITTER: Wendt J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6252692 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature