Promoting school connectedness: evidence from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.
Increasing evidence shows that when adolescents feel cared for by people at their school and feel like a part of their school, they are less likely to use substances, engage in violence, or initiate sexual activity at an early age. However, specific strategies to increase students' connectedness to school have not been studied. This study examined the association between school connectedness and the school environment to identify ways to increase students' connectedness to school. Data from the in-school and school administrator surveys of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (75,515 students in 127 schools) and hierarchical linear models were used to estimate the association between school characteristics and the average level of school connectedness in each school. Positive classroom management climates, participation in extracurricular activities, tolerant disciplinary policies, and small school size were associated positively with higher school connectedness.
McNeely
Clea A
CA
Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, University of Minnesota, University Gateway, Suite 260, 200 Oak St., SE, Minneapolis, MN 55445, USA. cmcneely@tc.umn.edu
Nonnemaker
James M
JM
Blum
Robert W
RW
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005178:Faculty / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015279:Organizational Culture; D012929:Psychological Distance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States