Student-school bonding and adolescent problem behavior.
B G Simons-Morton1, A D Crump, D L Haynie
1Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research, NICHD, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA.
Health Education Research
|October 28, 1999
Summary
Student-school bonding is key to preventing adolescent problem behaviors like substance use and delinquency. Stronger bonds correlate with better school adjustment and climate, reducing misconduct. This study informs intervention programs.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent psychology
- Educational psychology
- Public health
Background:
- Adolescent problem behaviors, including substance use, delinquency, and school misconduct, are a significant national concern.
- Positive social bonds between students and their schools are theoretically linked to better academic performance and reduced antisocial behavior.
- Limited research exists on the intricate relationship between middle school students and their school environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between student-school bonding and problem behaviors in middle school students.
- To examine correlations between student-school bonding, school adjustment, and perceived school climate.
- To inform the development of a problem behavior prevention program.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 4263 students in grades 6-8 across seven middle schools in a US school district.
- Data were analyzed using correlational statistics to assess relationships between variables.
- Demographic data (gender, grade level) were also analyzed in relation to problem behavior and school bonding.
Main Results:
- Student-school bonding showed positive correlations with school adjustment (r=0.49) and perceived school climate (r=0.77).
- Bonding was inversely correlated with problem behavior (r=-0.39 to -0.43).
- Problem behaviors were higher in males and older students, while bonding, climate, and adjustment were higher in females and decreased with grade level.
Conclusions:
- Student-school bonding is significantly associated with reduced problem behavior in middle school.
- Findings support the development of interventions aimed at strengthening student-school bonds to prevent adolescent problem behaviors.
- The study highlights gender and grade-level differences in school bonding and problem behavior.
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