Melina Bersamin1, Robert W S Coulter2, Jenna Gaarde3, Samantha Garbers4, Christina Mair2, John Santelli5. 1. Prevention Research Center, 2150 Shattuck Avenue Suite, 601, Berkeley, CA 94704-1365. 2. Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261. 3. Prevention Research Center, 180 Grand Avenue Suite, 1200, Oakland, CA 94612. 4. Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 60 Haven Avenue, B-2, Room B4-417, New York, NY 10032. 5. Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 60 Haven Avenue, B-2, New York, NY 10032.
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).
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).
Authors: M D Resnick; P S Bearman; R W Blum; K E Bauman; K M Harris; J Jones; J Tabor; T Beuhring; R E Sieving; M Shew; M Ireland; L H Bearinger; J R Udry Journal: JAMA Date: 1997-09-10 Impact factor: 56.272
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Authors: Robert W S Coulter; Taylor Paglisotti; Gerald Montano; Kaitlin Bodnar; Melina Bersamin; Stephen T Russell; Ashley V Hill; Christina Mair; Elizabeth Miller Journal: J Sch Health Date: 2021-04 Impact factor: 2.118