Earthquake damage linked to school absence and mental health issues in Groningen teens

Researchers from the University of Groningen and Nivel have found that young people in Groningen who live in homes affected by earthquake damage are more likely to experience mental health issues. These adolescents are also absent from school more often than their peers.

“The effects of gas extraction reach far beyond structural damage to homes; they influence the well-being and health of Groningen residents,” says Michel Dückers, head of research at Gronings Perspectief, which has been studying the consequences of gas extraction since 2016. “This study shows that young people in Groningen are affected as well. Home damage affects their everyday lives and undermines the confidence of a new generation in the future.”

The study’s findings are based on data from the RIVM Youth Health Monitor and all regional public health services (GGD). These results come from questionnaires filled out by students in the second and fourth years of secondary school.

For the Groningen analysis, the researchers compared the latest 2023 data, which included 7,000 participants from the province, with 2019 data from 5,000 Groningen residents.

The researchers found that five years ago, there was no difference between adolescents living in homes affected by earthquake damage and those who were not. By 2023, however, clear differences had emerged.

The report notes that it is not the earthquakes themselves, but the resulting damage that influences how young people feel. Parental stress and lengthy damage compensation processes also affect family life.

“We observe lower mental and overall health scores, an increase in suicidal thoughts, reduced confidence in the future, and higher rates of school absence and truancy,” the Gronings Perspectief researchers state. They argue that “attention and support” are needed to prevent young people from experiencing “permanent damage.”