Protective Connections and Educational Attainment among Young Adults with Childhood-Onset Chronic Illness
Journal Article
Maslow, Gary R.
Haydon, Abigail A.
McRee, Annie-Laurie
Halpern, Carolyn Tucker
2012
Journal of School Health
82
8
364-70
10.1111/j.1746-1561.2012.00710.x
PMC Journal - In Process
5414
BACKGROUND: Youth with childhood-onset chronic illness (COCI) are at risk of poor educational attainment. Specific protective factors that promote college graduation in this population have not been studied previously. In this study, we examine the role protective factors during adolescence play in promoting college graduation among young adults with COCI. METHODS: Data were collected from 10,925 participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Protective factors present before 18 years of age included mentoring, parent relationship quality, school connectedness, and religious attendance. College graduation was the outcome of interest assessed when participants had a mean age of 28 years. Analysis was stratified by presence of COCI. RESULTS: About 2% of participants (N = 230) had 1 of 4 COCIs (cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, or heart disease). All 4 protective factors were associated with college graduation for youth without COCI. In the final multivariate model, only school connectedness was associated with college graduation for youth with COCI. CONCLUSION: School connectedness is of particular importance in promoting educational attainment for youth with COCI.
Fertility, Families, and Children
Biological and Social Interactions
5414.ris
—
Octet Stream,
1 kB (1,749 bytes)
