Associations between Student Health and Academic Performance

Abstract

Associations between student health and academic performance are of interest to college students and universities that share the goal of keeping students well so that they can achieve as much as possible academically. This thesis examines portions of Princeton University’s National College Health Assessment survey data from 2009-2014. Overall, the results showed that problems related to mental health, alcohol use, and sleep are associated with lowered academic performance. Additionally, more severe health problems are associated with lower grade point averages compared to students with less severe health problems. These patterns generally agreed with the established literature on the subject. The mechanism of association remains to be seen, however; it is unknown whether health issues cause lowered academic performance, or lowered academic performance causes health problems. Regardless, altering behavior with sensitivity to the associations found in this thesis may have positive benefits for the academic performance and overall well-being of college students in the future.