Back to Basics: Increasing Tiredness and Hunger in Nordic Classrooms and Their Links to Disorderly Behaviour and Academic Achievement

This study examines trends in self-reported tiredness and hunger among 4th grade students in the Nordic countries between 2016 and 2023, using data from PIRLS and TIMSS. Results show a significant increase in the proportion of students who frequently arrive at school feeling tired or hungry, with tiredness reported by 38%–52% of students and hunger by 27%–30% in 2023. Multilevel analyses reveal that students who are often tired/hungry report significantly higher levels of disorderly behaviour than classroom peers in all cases. In most cases, we also find that the average levels of disorderly behaviour are higher in classrooms with higher proportions of students facing these challenges. Furthermore, tiredness and hunger are negatively related to achievement in reading, mathematics, and science. These findings underscore the importance of addressing basic needs such as sleep and nutrition—not only for individual well-being and achievement, but for maintaining a supportive classroom environment.