title: The impact of school connectedness on violent behavior, transport risk-taking behavior, and associated injuries in adolescence.
abstract: Adolescents engage in many risk-taking behaviors that have the potential to lead to injury. The school environment has a significant role in shaping adolescent behavior, and this study aimed to provide additional information about the benefits associated with connectedness to school. Early adolescents aged 13 to 15 years (N=509, 49% boys) were surveyed about school connectedness, engagement in transport and violence risk-taking, and injury experiences. Significant relations were found between school connectedness and reduced engagement in both transport and violence risk-taking, as well as fewer associated injuries. This study has implications for the area of risk-taking and injury prevention, as it suggests the potential for reducing adolescents' injury through school based interventions targeting school connectedness.
authors: Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Australia. rl.chapman@qut.edu.au
authors: Rebekah L
authors: RL
authors: Chapman
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Buckley
authors: Mary C
authors: MC
authors: Sheehan
authors: Ian M
authors: IM
authors: Shochet
authors: Madeline
authors: M
authors: Romaniuk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D012931:Social Environment; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*