1. Timing of puberty and school performance: A population-based study
- Author
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Maria Suutela, Päivi J. Miettinen, Silja Kosola, Ossi Rahkonen, Tero Varimo, Annika Tarkkanen, Matti Hero, Taneli Raivio, Helsinki University Hospital Area, STEMM - Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Clinicum, Research Programs Unit, Timo Pyry Juhani Otonkoski / Principal Investigator, Centre of Excellence in Stem Cell Metabolism, HUS Children and Adolescents, Department of Public Health, Faculty Common Matters (Faculty of Social Sciences), Children's Hospital, Medicum, Raivio Group, and Department of Physiology
- Subjects
Male ,ADOLESCENT HEALTH ,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism ,Puberty ,CHILDREN ,school health ,MATURATION ,Body Height ,school performance ,SECULAR TRENDS ,3141 Health care science ,academic achievement ,ESTROGEN ,AGE ,GROWTH ,Humans ,adolescence ,516 Educational sciences ,Female ,age at peak height velocity ,BRAIN ,Child ,WHITE-MATTER ,PHYSICAL SELF-PERCEPTIONS - Abstract
ObjectiveTo determine whether the timing of puberty associates with school performance.MethodsGrowth data on 13,183 children born between 1997 and 2002, were collected from child health clinics and school healthcare and school performance data from school records. Age at peak height velocity (PHV) marked pubertal timing. The relationships between age at PHV and average grades in mathematics, native language, English, and physical education from school years 6 (end of elementary school; age 11-12 years), 7 (start of middle school; 12-13 years), and 9 (end of middle school; 14-15 years) were modeled using generalized estimating equations and linear mixed models, adjusted for the month of birth and annual income and education levels in school catchment areas.ResultsThe mean (SD) age at PHV was 13.54 (1.17) years in boys and 11.43 (1.18) years in girls. In girls, age at PHV was associated with grades in mathematics (β=0.041–0.062, pConclusionsIn both sexes, the timing of puberty was associated with the grades in physical education, and in girls, with academic achievement. The decrease in boys’ mathematics grades and sex difference in academic achievement were unexplained by the timing of puberty.
- Published
- 2022