A new Swedish study on the school's importance as a protective factor.
"• This national Swedish cohort study showed that poor school performance at the age of 15 was strongly associated with an increased risk of alcohol-related disorders in early adulthood.
• Increased vulnerability to alcohol is a possible mechanism: more education can provide individuals with a number of health-promoting resources with the potential to buffer against the negative effects of drinking.
• Confounding due to psychosocial problems such as heavy adolescent drinking, conduct disorders and bullying is another probable explanation.
• Once adjusted for school performance, the socioeconomic gradient with regard to alcohol-related disorders disappears. This indicates that schools have a great potential to reduce social inequalities in health."
Projectleader Britt Fredenman