Is being Punished at School an Indicator of Psychosocial Risk?

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Criminology

Background:

• Exclusively coercive disciplinary measures are ineffective in improving behavior and may escalate underlying risks.
• Research indicates a need to explore the relationship between school punishment and adolescent psychosocial development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between repeated school punishments and psychosocial risks in adolescents.
• To determine if specific types of punishment correlate with increased risks such as substance abuse and criminal behavior.

Main Methods:

• A non-experimental study involving 507 adolescents across four risk-level groups: social protection, court measures, drug abuse treatment, and a comparison group.
• Data collected via collective questionnaire assessing school punishments, violence, drug consumption, and crime.
• Statistical analysis using logistic regression to identify predictors of psychosocial risks.

Main Results:

• Mild school punishments predicted increased alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis consumption (34%) and illegal drug use (11%).
• Severe school punishments significantly increased illegal drug use (86%) and crime commission (40%).
• School punishments serve as an indicator of underlying psychosocial risk.

Conclusions:

• School punishments, especially severe ones, are linked to significant psychosocial risks in adolescents.
• Coercive disciplinary measures alone are insufficient for intervention; a comprehensive educational approach is necessary.
• Intervention should focus on integrating at-risk students into the school environment rather than exclusion.