School‐Based Health Centers and School Connectedness
Year: 2018
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Improvements in health behaviors and academic outcomes have been associated with school-based health centers (SBHCs). However, underlying mechanisms for these associations have been largely unexamined, particularly among lower-income youth. The current study examines the relationship between SBHCs and school connectedness and whether this relationship differs by youths' socioeconomic status (SES). METHODS: Student-level cross-sectional data from 503 traditional high schools in California were analyzed using multilevel regression models. California Healthy Kids Survey 2013-2014 data included information on 3 dimensions of school connectedness and demographic characteristics including SES as measured by parental education. School-level demographic data was gathered from publicly available sources. RESULTS: Although no significant relationship between SBHCs and any of the school connectedness dimensions emerged, there were significant cross-level interactions between SBHCs and parent education. SBHCs were more positively associated with school connectedness (adult caring, adult expectations, and meaningful participation) among lower SES students compared to students with higher SES. CONCLUSIONS: SBHCs may be particularly effective in affecting school connectedness among lower income youth populations. This has wide ranging implications with regards to planning (eg, careful selection of where SBHCs can be most effective), and future research (eg, examining the effectiveness of specific SBHC strategies that support connectedness).
Source: Journal of School Health
DOI: 10.1111/josh.12707
Institutions: University of Pittsburgh, Columbia University
Language: English
Subfield: Speech and Hearing
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G2256999543, G3129442948, G70440502
OpenAlex ID: W2903542019