Associations of Adolescent Menstrual Symptoms with School Absences and Educational Attainment: Analysis of a Prospective Cohort Study
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| Title: | Associations of Adolescent Menstrual Symptoms with School Absences and Educational Attainment: Analysis of a Prospective Cohort Study |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Gemma Sawyer (ORCID |
| Source: | npj Science of Learning. 2025 10. |
| Availability: | Nature Portfolio. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://www.nature.com/npjscilearn/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 8 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Females, Physiology, Adolescents, Attendance, Academic Achievement, Correlation, Foreign Countries, Tests, Scores, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Secondary School Students |
| Geographic Terms: | United Kingdom |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41539-025-00338-x |
| ISSN: | 2056-7936 |
| Abstract: | Menstrual symptoms may negatively impact academic achievement, but rigorous population-based studies are lacking. 2,698 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) self-reported heavy or prolonged bleeding and menstrual pain during adolescence and multivariable regression were used to estimate associations with linked data on absences and attainment at age 15/16, adjusting for confounders. Heavy or prolonged bleeding and pain were associated with missing 1.7 (16.58% increase) and 1.2 (12.83% increase) additional days of school per year, respectively, and 48% and 42% higher odds of persistent ([greater than or equal to]10%) absence. Heavy or prolonged bleeding was associated with lower examination scores (-5.7 points) and 27% lower odds of achieving five standard passes. The association between pain and attainment was weaker but still present (-3.14 points; 95% CI: -7.46, 1.17; 16% lower odds of five standard passes). Greater research and support are needed to prevent adolescents' menstrual symptoms impacting their academic achievement. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1480898 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Menstrual symptoms may negatively impact academic achievement, but rigorous population-based studies are lacking. 2,698 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) self-reported heavy or prolonged bleeding and menstrual pain during adolescence and multivariable regression were used to estimate associations with linked data on absences and attainment at age 15/16, adjusting for confounders. Heavy or prolonged bleeding and pain were associated with missing 1.7 (16.58% increase) and 1.2 (12.83% increase) additional days of school per year, respectively, and 48% and 42% higher odds of persistent ([greater than or equal to]10%) absence. Heavy or prolonged bleeding was associated with lower examination scores (-5.7 points) and 27% lower odds of achieving five standard passes. The association between pain and attainment was weaker but still present (-3.14 points; 95% CI: -7.46, 1.17; 16% lower odds of five standard passes). Greater research and support are needed to prevent adolescents' menstrual symptoms impacting their academic achievement. |
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| ISSN: | 2056-7936 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41539-025-00338-x |
