TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparing social, emotional, and behavioral health risks among youth attending public versus parochial schools
AU - Waasdorp, Tracy E.
AU - Berg, Juliette
AU - Debnam, Katrina J.
AU - Stuart, Elizabeth A.
AU - Bradshaw, Catherine P.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Education; William T. Grant Foundation.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/7/3
Y1 - 2018/7/3
N2 - Parochial schools are assumed to provide better social and academic experiences; however, few studies account for selection bias when comparing with public schools. This study contrasted public versus parochial schools using propensity score matching across a range of outcomes (e.g., perceptions of school, emotional symptoms, substance use, bullying). Using a sample of 58 public and 5 parochial high schools, the nonmatched analyses suggested a significant advantage for parochial schools students (e.g., better on 23 of 32 indicators). However, the propensity score matched analyses revealed nine differences (e.g., weapon carrying, smoking), two of which (i.e., stress and cyberbullying) favored public schools. While at first glance parochial schools generally appear to be healthier and safer learning environments, accounting for selection bias, the gap was narrowed. Students in parochial schools may struggle with issues related to social, emotional, and behavioral health risk, and thus prevention programs should also be implemented in these settings.
AB - Parochial schools are assumed to provide better social and academic experiences; however, few studies account for selection bias when comparing with public schools. This study contrasted public versus parochial schools using propensity score matching across a range of outcomes (e.g., perceptions of school, emotional symptoms, substance use, bullying). Using a sample of 58 public and 5 parochial high schools, the nonmatched analyses suggested a significant advantage for parochial schools students (e.g., better on 23 of 32 indicators). However, the propensity score matched analyses revealed nine differences (e.g., weapon carrying, smoking), two of which (i.e., stress and cyberbullying) favored public schools. While at first glance parochial schools generally appear to be healthier and safer learning environments, accounting for selection bias, the gap was narrowed. Students in parochial schools may struggle with issues related to social, emotional, and behavioral health risk, and thus prevention programs should also be implemented in these settings.
KW - Public schools
KW - bullying
KW - climate
KW - private schools
KW - substance use
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U2 - 10.1080/15388220.2017.1387130
DO - 10.1080/15388220.2017.1387130
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85032676184
SN - 1538-8220
VL - 17
SP - 381
EP - 391
JO - Journal of School Violence
JF - Journal of School Violence
IS - 3
ER -