popularity

Popularity at school is good for your ego and your health

WHILE many parents get concerned about their adolescent children’s desire to be part of the ‘in-crowd’, a Swedish study suggests popularity at that age may confer future health benefits. The study of 14,000 children born in 1953 found those who were less popular and powerful at school were four times more likely to require hospital treatment for hormonal, nutritional and metabolic diseases by age 50 than were their more popular classmates. The less popular students were also twice as likely to develop mental health and behavioural problems, and rates of self-harm and attempted suicide were also increased. ...