An Exploration of the Dynamic Relationship between Health and Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Abstract

NBER WorlçLng paper 454 ebruary, 1980 This paper is an empirical exploration of the dynamic relationship between health and cognitive development in a longitudinal data set compiled from two nationally representative cross-sections of children. Our results indicate that there is feedback both from health to cognitive development and from cognitive development to health, but the latter of these relationships is stronger.They also indicate that estimates of family background effects taken from the dynamiá model -which can be assumed to be less jufluenced by genetic factors are smaller than their cross-sectional counterparts, but some still remain statistically significant.The first finding calls attention to the existence of a continuing interaction between health and cognitive development over the life cycle. The second finding suggests that nurture timattersit in cognitive development and health outcomes.

Should we brush twice a day? Determinants of dental health among young adults in Finland

“…If this achievement variable-a mean score of all school subjects at age 16, reflecting a pupil's intelligence-can be considered as an important determinant of the years of formal schooling that one will ultimately complete beyond approximately age 30, then it may be viewed as the early forerunner of the positive effect of formal schooling on dental good-health for female young adults. In this respect, our finding is quite accordant with the result of Shakotko et al [28].…”

“…This suggests that under the present framework, causality between dental health and education comes about as more educationally successful female adolescents are better able to manage or avoid dental health problems in early adulthood. This supports the hypothetical view that good health is associated with the adolescent cognitive development [28]. It is also possible that adolescent school achievement is correlated with current education and the error term in the caries equation, which then affects caries.…”

Can Education Policy Be Health Policy? Implications of Research on the Social Determinants of Health

“…While it is obvious in some cases that poor health may interfere with education, over the life course the relationship is very likely bidirectional, and the preponderance of the evidence supports the concept that the initial relationship is strongly in the direction from education to health and not the other way around (Koivusilta, Rimpelä, and Rimpelä 1999;Ross and Wu 1996;Shakotko, Edwards, and Grossman 1980).…”

Improving the Health of Children: Must the Children be Involved?

“…The results suggest "health is produced" by cognitive development, rather than the reverse (38). Although these studies are limited by the data available to the investigators, and flawed by their selection of certain variables as descriptive of future health status, they clearly emphasize the importance of maternal level of education rather than maternal status in the work force, family income, or other social demo graphic variables as an important determinant of childrens' health status.…”