Associations of adolescent menstrual symptoms with school absences and educational attainment: analysis of a prospective cohort study
Abstract Menstrual symptoms may negatively impact academic achievement, but rigorous population-based studies are lacking. 2,698 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) self-reported heavy or prolonged bleeding and menstrual pain during adolescence and multivar...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | npj Science of Learning |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00338-x |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849226673533222912 |
|---|---|
| author | Gemma Sawyer Abigail Fraser Deborah A. Lawlor Gemma C. Sharp Laura D. Howe |
| author_facet | Gemma Sawyer Abigail Fraser Deborah A. Lawlor Gemma C. Sharp Laura D. Howe |
| author_sort | Gemma Sawyer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Menstrual symptoms may negatively impact academic achievement, but rigorous population-based studies are lacking. 2,698 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) self-reported heavy or prolonged bleeding and menstrual pain during adolescence and multivariable regression were used to estimate associations with linked data on absences and attainment at age 15/16, adjusting for confounders. Heavy or prolonged bleeding and pain were associated with missing 1.7 (16.58% increase) and 1.2 (12.83% increase) additional days of school per year, respectively, and 48% and 42% higher odds of persistent (≥10%) absence. Heavy or prolonged bleeding was associated with lower examination scores (−5.7 points) and 27% lower odds of achieving five standard passes. The association between pain and attainment was weaker but still present (−3.14 points; 95% CI: −7.46, 1.17; 16% lower odds of five standard passes). Greater research and support are needed to prevent adolescents’ menstrual symptoms impacting their academic achievement. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c07205c3306d484f8fff2bac63d41973 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2056-7936 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Science of Learning |
| spelling | doaj-art-c07205c3306d484f8fff2bac63d419732025-08-24T11:09:01ZengNature Portfolionpj Science of Learning2056-79362025-08-011011810.1038/s41539-025-00338-xAssociations of adolescent menstrual symptoms with school absences and educational attainment: analysis of a prospective cohort studyGemma Sawyer0Abigail Fraser1Deborah A. Lawlor2Gemma C. Sharp3Laura D. Howe4MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of BristolMRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of BristolMRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of BristolMRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of BristolMRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of BristolAbstract Menstrual symptoms may negatively impact academic achievement, but rigorous population-based studies are lacking. 2,698 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) self-reported heavy or prolonged bleeding and menstrual pain during adolescence and multivariable regression were used to estimate associations with linked data on absences and attainment at age 15/16, adjusting for confounders. Heavy or prolonged bleeding and pain were associated with missing 1.7 (16.58% increase) and 1.2 (12.83% increase) additional days of school per year, respectively, and 48% and 42% higher odds of persistent (≥10%) absence. Heavy or prolonged bleeding was associated with lower examination scores (−5.7 points) and 27% lower odds of achieving five standard passes. The association between pain and attainment was weaker but still present (−3.14 points; 95% CI: −7.46, 1.17; 16% lower odds of five standard passes). Greater research and support are needed to prevent adolescents’ menstrual symptoms impacting their academic achievement.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00338-x |
| spellingShingle | Gemma Sawyer Abigail Fraser Deborah A. Lawlor Gemma C. Sharp Laura D. Howe Associations of adolescent menstrual symptoms with school absences and educational attainment: analysis of a prospective cohort study npj Science of Learning |
| title | Associations of adolescent menstrual symptoms with school absences and educational attainment: analysis of a prospective cohort study |
| title_full | Associations of adolescent menstrual symptoms with school absences and educational attainment: analysis of a prospective cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Associations of adolescent menstrual symptoms with school absences and educational attainment: analysis of a prospective cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations of adolescent menstrual symptoms with school absences and educational attainment: analysis of a prospective cohort study |
| title_short | Associations of adolescent menstrual symptoms with school absences and educational attainment: analysis of a prospective cohort study |
| title_sort | associations of adolescent menstrual symptoms with school absences and educational attainment analysis of a prospective cohort study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00338-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gemmasawyer associationsofadolescentmenstrualsymptomswithschoolabsencesandeducationalattainmentanalysisofaprospectivecohortstudy AT abigailfraser associationsofadolescentmenstrualsymptomswithschoolabsencesandeducationalattainmentanalysisofaprospectivecohortstudy AT deborahalawlor associationsofadolescentmenstrualsymptomswithschoolabsencesandeducationalattainmentanalysisofaprospectivecohortstudy AT gemmacsharp associationsofadolescentmenstrualsymptomswithschoolabsencesandeducationalattainmentanalysisofaprospectivecohortstudy AT lauradhowe associationsofadolescentmenstrualsymptomswithschoolabsencesandeducationalattainmentanalysisofaprospectivecohortstudy |