Birth rank as a determinant of academic achievement:results from a European survey of primary school children

Arshad H, Husky MM, Gölitz D, Bitfoi A, Carta MG, Koc C, Lesinskiene S, Mihova Z, Otten R, Fermanian C, Kovess-Masfety V (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

European Journal of Developmental Psychology Taylor & Francis (Psychology Press): STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles / Taylor & Francis (Psychology Press)

Book Volume: 17

Pages Range: 629-648

Journal Issue: 5

DOI: 10.1080/17405629.2019.1700108

Abstract

The present study investigates the relationship between birth rank and academic achievement of children in a cross-country study to examine whether firstborn children perform better in primary school than later-born children when controlling for individual, social and parental characteristics. Data were drawn from the School Children Mental Health in Europe (SCMHE) study, which included samples from Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Lithuania, Romania and Turkey (n = 7,518). Children’s academic performance in reading and mathematics was evaluated by teachers and parents reported sociodemographic variables including birth rank and parental attitudes. Controlling for individual, sociodemographic variables and parental attitudes in multinomial regressions, first- or second-born children displayed greater performance in mathematics and in reading as compared to children whose birth rank was third or above. Children from large families, especially when they are not first- or second-born appear to be at greater risk for academic difficulties and should benefit from targeted prevention efforts.

Authors with CRIS profile

Dietmar Gölitz Lehrstuhl für Didaktik der deutschen Sprache und Literatur

Involved external institutions

Institut national de physique nucléaire et de physique des particules (IN2P3) FR France (FR) Università degli Studi di Cagliari IT Italy (IT) Radboud University Nijmegen NL Netherlands (NL) Vilnius University / Vilniaus universitetas LT Lithuania (LT) University of Paris 4 - Paris-Sorbonne / Université paris IV Paris-Sorbonne FR France (FR) YENIDEN Health and Education Society TR Turkey (TR) New Bulgarian University BG Bulgaria (BG)

How to cite

APA:

Arshad, H., Husky, M.M., Gölitz, D., Bitfoi, A., Carta, M.G., Koc, C.,... Kovess-Masfety, V. (2020). Birth rank as a determinant of academic achievement:results from a European survey of primary school children. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 17(5), 629-648. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2019.1700108

MLA:

Arshad, Husnain, et al. "Birth rank as a determinant of academic achievement:results from a European survey of primary school children." European Journal of Developmental Psychology 17.5 (2020): 629-648.

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