Work

Gender and socioeconomic dimensions of relative age effects on ADHD prescriptions: Evidence from Denmark

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This paper examines the impact of relative age on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) prescriptions among school-aged children. Using a regression discontinuity design,we leverage the quasi-experimental variation in school starting age. We use administrativedata for all children aged 6-16 from 2010 to 2019 in Denmark. We find a significant decreasein ADHD prescription rates for girls, who are relative old compared to their class mates. Wedo not find any significant results for boys. We further test the social gradient in relative ageon ADHD prescriptions, and find that the effect is entirely driven by girls from low incomefamilies.

Source: Economics Letters

DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2024.112000

Authors: Konrad Juel Thide, Felix Johannes Pettersson Bøgh, Birthe Larsen

Institutions: University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Business School

Language: English

Topic: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,980