title: Psychopathological factors that can influence academic achievement in early adolescence: a three-year prospective study.
abstract: This three-phase prospective study investigated psychosocial factors predicting or associated with academic achievement. An initial sample of 1,514 school-age children was assessed with screening tools for emotional problems (Screen for Childhood Anxiety and Related Emotional Disorders; Leyton Obsessional Inventory-Child Version; Children's Depression Inventory). The following year, 562 subjects (risk group/without risk group) were re-assessed and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was assessed. Two years later, 242 subjects were followed, and their parents informed about their academic achievement. Results showed that early depression (phase 1 B = -.130, p = .001; phase 1 + phase 2 B = -.187, p < .001), persistent anxiety symptoms (phase 1 + phase 2 B = -1.721, p = .018), and ADHD were predictors of lower academic achievement (phase 1 + phase 2 B = -3.415, p = .005). However, some anxiety symptoms can improve academic achievement (Social phobia B = .216, p = .018; Generalized anxiety B = .313, p < .001). Socio-economic status (SES) was positively related to academic achievement. We can conclude that in the transition period to adolescence, school-health professionals and teachers need to consider the emotional issues of students to avoid unwanted academic outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain).
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Voltas
authors.affiliation: Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain).
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hernández-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain).
authors.forename: Estefania
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aparicio
authors.affiliation: Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain).
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arija
authors.affiliation: Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain).
authors.forename: Josefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Canals
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011584:Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: academic achievement; early adolescence; prospective study; psychopathology