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Review
. 2024;10(4):477-500.
doi: 10.1007/s40865-025-00266-9. Epub 2025 Mar 20.

The Association Between Academic Achievement and Subsequent Youth Offending: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

M Lankester  1 , C Coles  2 , A Trotter  1 , S Scott  1 , J Downs  3   4 , H Dickson  2 , A Wickersham  4
Affiliations
Review

The Association Between Academic Achievement and Subsequent Youth Offending: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

M Lankester et al. J Dev Life Course Criminol. 2024.

Abstract

The association between academic achievement and youth offending has yet to be clearly quantified. This meta-analysis aims to provide a robust estimate of the longitudinal association between academic achievement and subsequent youth offending. We searched PsycINFO, ERIC, British Education Index, and Web of Science from inception to 2 April 2024 using a comprehensive search strategy. We identified eligible studies reporting on the association between academic achievement and subsequent youth offending, as measured using self-report or administrative records up to the age of 25 years. Correlation coefficients and odds ratios were pooled in a meta-analysis. Effect modifiers were investigated in a sub-group analysis, and other findings were narratively synthesised. PROSPERO record: CRD42023402103. Seventeen studies were included, of which eight were pooled in a meta-analysis. The findings showed a small but statistically significant association between lower academic achievement and youth offending (pooled Fisher z = - 0.21, 95% CI [- 0.29, - 0.12], I 2 = 98.4%). Sub-group analysis and narrative synthesis yielded mixed findings on the possible role of measurement timing and offence types. Lower academic achievement was associated with subsequent youth offending, underlining the need for a child-first approach to early prevention and intervention strategies in educational and forensic settings.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40865-025-00266-9.

Keywords: Academic achievement; Delinquency; Meta-analysis; Systematic review; Youth offending.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestThis paper represents independent research supported by the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow diagram
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Meta-analysis of Fisher’s z between academic achievement and offending. Note: Study weights (%) are from random effects analysis. Zych et al. 1 is the London, UK (CSDD), sample. Zych et al. 2 is the Zurich, Switzerland (z-proso), sample
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Funnel plot
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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