Understanding School Dropout through the Lens of Student Health: Investigating the Role of Mental and Physical Illnesses and Their Association with Aggressive and Antisocial Behaviors

Abstract

Background: school dropout is worldwide challenges arises from many causes, personal and socio-environmental, and lead to numerous consequences. Personal causes include mental and physical illnesses. Mental illness includes both behavioural, mood and personality disorders including depression and autism. Objectives: To assess the association between mental and physical health outcomes and school dropout among primary and secondary students in Babylon, with emphasis on comparative patterns of aggression, stealing, lying, and hyperactivity. Materials and Methods: this is a cross-sectional study involving 56 students from Babylon, 28 of them were dropped out from their school visited Imam Al-Sadiq Hospital, and another 28 were a control group. A questionnaire was used to collect the required data by direct interview with participants parents. Results: most of cases group (26) have positive medical history, while 10 have positive psychiatric history. Dropped out students were found to be have more aggressive than the control group (p=0.00003), they have more lying (p=0.00002). Control children have higher stealing than those who dropped out, but non-significant. Hyperactivity shows no significant difference. Conclusion: there are significant association between school dropout and mental and somatic disorders. This indicates that students who experience health problems are more likely to leave school early and show higher aggression and a greater dishonest behaviour. Therefore, early detection of health problems and providing adequate support may reduce dropout rates and improve students’ overall school adjustment.