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Social Context: School
Book chapter   Open access

Social Context: School

Daniela Ramelow, Don A. Klinger Professor, Dorothy Currie, John G. Freeman, Lavina Damian, Oana Negru, Oddrun Samdal, Mette Rasmussen and Rosemarie Felder-Puig
Social determinants of health and well-being among young people: Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HSBC) Study: International Report from the 2009/2010 Survey, pp.45-63
Health Policy for Children and Adolescents;, 6, World Health Organization
2012
Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/326406
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Abstract

School experiences occur during crucial developmental periods in young people’s lives and influence the development of their self-esteem, self-perceptions and health behaviours, with consequent effects on future health and life satisfaction (1). A positive school experience is considered a resource for health and well-being, while a negative experience may constitute a risk factor, affecting students’ mental and physical health. “Liking school” has consequently been identified as a protective factor against health-compromising behaviours including bullying (2), sexual risk-taking (3) and tobacco, alcohol and drug use (4,5). Students who dislike school or do not feel connected to it are more likely to fail academically, drop out (6) and have mental health problems (7). Schools can positively affect children’s health and well-being through the creation of positive developmental experiences, enhancing their enjoyment (8). This may be particularly important for marginalized children (9). National education and schoollevel policies and practices need to reflect schools’ influence on young people’s lives, especially as students get older and their connections with school typically decrease.

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