TO WHAT EXTENT DOES MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT ACADEMIC OUTCOMES? AN ANALYSIS OF PISA 2022 DATA

This observational, retrospective study aims to find a causal relationship between mental health issues and educational outcomes in students from OECD countries, leveraging data from the Programme for International Student Assessment 2022 (PISA) by the OECD. Previous research has highlighted both the prevalence of anxiety and depression among students and the correlation between such mental health issues and poor academic outcomes. Using PISA data, this paper explores the impact of self-reported anxiety and depression on academic performance in mathematics, reading, and science. The methodology includes an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, controlling for variables such as birth month, parental education, gender, computer and internet access at home, and socioeconomic status. Results indicate that anxiety and depression can lead to worsened academic performance across all subjects, with significant p-values supporting the statistical significance of these results. These results offer evidence and reason for policymakers and educators to focus on mental health interventions to enhance student outcomes.