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Reading and writing difficulties and self-rated health among Danish adolescents: cross-sectional study from the FOCA cohort.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:People struggling with reading and writing difficulties may have poor odds of achieving a good and healthy life. Reading and writing difficulties are independent risk factors for not completing education and unemployment, which are essential in order to obtain a good and healthy life. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association between reading and writing difficulties and self-rated health among adolescents, and to investigate how mental health mediates the association. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was performed based on the FOCA cohort, a Danish population-based survey among 9th grade pupils, mainly aged 15- and 16-years old, gathered during the first months of 2017. The study population contained 9748 pupils. The dependent variable was a yes-or-no answer to experiencing limitations in every-day life due to reading and writing difficulties. The independent variable was measured with the SF-36 self-rated health question, dichotomised in high (very good, excellent) and low (good, fair, poor). A logistic regression model was applied. RESULTS:Among the study population 953 (9.8%) pupils reported having reading and writing difficulties. The adjusted OR of having a low self-rated health was significantly higher among adolescents with reading and writing difficulties than without (1.37 (95% CI: 1.14-1.66)). Loneliness and perceived stress, explained a minor part of the association, OR attenuated from 1.77 (95% CI: 1.51-2.09) in the crude model to 1.47 (95% CI: 1.23-1.74) in a more adjusted model. CONCLUSION:Adolescents with reading and writing difficulties are not only struggling with reading and writing difficulties but experiencing also low self-rated health. Mental health only explained a minor part of this association. To clarify whether causal relationship between reading and writing difficulties and self-rated health may exist, longitudinal studies are needed. If support for the hypothesised causality is found early identification of reading and writing difficulties is important, to prevent future health inequality in adolescents with reading and writing difficulties.

SUBMITTER: Kjeldsen MZ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6511132 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Reading and writing difficulties and self-rated health among Danish adolescents: cross-sectional study from the FOCA cohort.

Kjeldsen Mette-Marie Zacher MZ Stapelfeldt Christina Malmose CM Lindholdt Louise L Lund Thomas T Labriola Merete M

BMC public health 20190510 1

<h4>Background</h4>People struggling with reading and writing difficulties may have poor odds of achieving a good and healthy life. Reading and writing difficulties are independent risk factors for not completing education and unemployment, which are essential in order to obtain a good and healthy life. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association between reading and writing difficulties and self-rated health among adolescents, and to investigate how mental health medi ...[more]

PMID: 31077173

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Project description:ObjectivesThis paper examines the relationship between individuals' perceptions of environmental quality and self-rated health (SRH) after controlling for dimensions of socioeconomic, demographic and healthy lifestyle variables.DesignA cross-sectional survey.SettingThe survey was conducted in Belait, an oil-rich and gas-rich district in Brunei Darussalam, from 17 October to 11 November 2019 and focused on the most populated subdistricts (Kuala Belait, Seria and Liang), where 97% of the people reside.ParticipantsA final sample of 1000 respondents aged 18 years and older were randomly selected from the population of the chosen subdistricts, with 95% CI and ±3 margin of error. Due to variable selection, only 673 respondents were available for analysis.Outcome measuresSRH was dichotomised into 1 for good health and 0 otherwise. Perceptions of environmental quality included perceptions of the natural environment (air quality, marine quality, water supply, noise and olfactory pollution) and the social environment (crime). χ2 and logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between individuals' perceived environmental quality and SRH.ResultsMost respondents perceived themselves with good SRH (72%). The adjusted logistic regression shows that perceptions of air quality (OR=2.20, 95% CI 1.15 to 4.22, p=0.018) and marine resources (OR=1.84, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.74, p=0.002) in their surrounding areas were significantly associated with good SRH. However, other environmental variables were insignificantly associated with SRH. Among the control variables, healthy lifestyle and employment had positive associations with good SRH (OR=3.89, 95% CI 1.96 to 7.71, p=0.000, for exercising 3-5 times a week; OR=1.72, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.71, p=0.021, for being employed). In addition, frequent physical exercise compensated for the negative health impact of environmental pollution.ConclusionsThis study suggests that environmental quality has an important role in SRH. However, a healthy lifestyle measured with frequency of physical exercise seems to compensate for the adverse environmental effects on SRH.

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Reading and writing difficulties and self-rated health among Danish adolescents: cross-sectional study from the FOCA cohort.

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Reading and writing difficulties and self-rated health among Danish adolescents: cross-sectional study from the FOCA cohort.

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