Disadvantaged youth more likely to drop out, be young parents, live in poverty

According to a 30-year study conducted by researchers at Concordia University and the University of Ottawa, disadvantaged kids are more likely to drop out of high school, become young parents, and raise their own children in poverty. Of the participants who had become parents, 22.6% of mothers and 22.5% of fathers had not completed their secondary education by age 25, 40% of females and 28% of males were poor, and, on average, 35% of households were considered poor. The study found that childhood aggression and withdrawal resulted in lower school achievement. Both girls and boys who experienced academic difficulties were at greater risk for dropping out of school. Girls who failed to complete high school were at increased risk for entering motherhood at a young age and to parent in poverty, while aggressive boys were found to be at greater risk to be young parents of children who would be raised in the absence of one biological parent. Concordia News Release