Depressive and anxious symptoms and the risk of secondary school non-completion

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Référence

Brière FN, Pascal S, Dupéré V, Castellanos-Ryan N, Allard F, Yale-Soulière G et Janosz M. (2017). Depressive and anxious symptoms and the risk of secondary school non-completion. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 211(3), 163-168.

Résumé

Background: Evidence regarding the association between adolescent internalising symptoms and school non-completion has been limited and inconclusive.

Aims: To examine whether depressive and anxious symptoms at secondary school entry predict school non-completion beyond confounders and whether associations differ by baseline academic functioning.

Method: We used logistic regression to examine associations between depressive and anxious symptoms in grade 7 (age 12–14) and school non-completion (age 18–20) in 4962 adolescents.

Results: Depressive symptoms did not predict school non-completion after adjustment, but moderation analyses revealed an association in students with elevated academic functioning. A curvilinear association was found for anxiety: both low and high anxious symptoms predicted school non-completion, although only low anxiety remained predictive after adjustment.

Conclusions: Associations between internalising symptoms and school non-completion are modest. Common school-based interventions targeting internalising symptoms are unlikely to have a major impact on school non-completion, but may prevent non-completion in selected students.

DOI