Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Beck, Kathryn Christine
• Røhr, Helene Lie
• Reme, Bjørn-Atle
• Flatø, Martin

Titel

Distressing testing: A propensity score analysis of high-stakes exam failure and mental health

Ist Teil von

• Child development, 2023

Erscheinungsjahr

2023

Quelle

Wiley Blackwell Single Titles

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Abstract This study used rich individual‐level registry data covering the entire Norwegian population to identify students aged 17–21 who either failed a high‐stakes exit exam or who received the lowest passing grade from 2006 to 2018. Propensity score matching on high‐quality observed characteristics was utilized to allow meaningful comparisons ( N  = 18,052, 64% boys). Results showed a 21% increase in odds of receiving a psychological diagnosis among students who failed the exam. Adolescents were at 57% reduced odds of graduating and 44% reduction in odds of enrolling in tertiary education 5 years following the exam. Results suggest that failing a high‐stakes exam is associated with mental health issues and therefore may impact adolescents more broadly than captured in educational outcomes.