scholarly journals Gender stigma awareness is associated with adolescent risky health behaviors

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251332
Author(s):  
Karen Kwaning ◽  
Mitchell Wong ◽  
Kulwant Dosanjh ◽  
Christopher Biely ◽  
Rebecca Dudovitz

Objectives Although racial stigma in school is associated with adolescent risky health behaviors, there are no studies investigating how gender stigma relates to adolescent risky health behaviors among low-income, minority youth. We sought to determine whether gender stigma awareness is associated with adolescent risky health behaviors (delinquency, fighting, and substance use) and whether this association is mediated by school disengagement (low perceived teacher support, low school engagement, cutting classes, and breaking school rules) among low-income, minority students. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional survey data, collected from 2017 to 2019, from 412 high school students. Multi-level logistic regressions tested whether gender stigma awareness was associated with delinquency, fighting, and substance use, controlling for covariates, baseline behaviors, and clustering within schools. Mediation analyses tested whether school disengagement (low school engagement, perceived teacher support, cutting class, and breaking school rules) mediated these associations. Secondary analyses explored whether associations differed for male versus female, high-performing versus low-performing, and Latinx versus non-Latinx students. Results In this predominantly Latinx (83%) sample, gender stigma awareness was associated with delinquency (AOR = 1.48, P< 0.001) and fighting (AOR = 1.15, P< 0.001). School engagement, perceived teacher support, breaking school rules, and cutting classes mediated 42.7% of the association between gender stigma awareness and delinquency and 65.42% of the association between gender stigma awareness and fighting. Gender stigma awareness was also associated with substance use for low-performing (AOR = 1.68, P = 0.003) and non-Latinx adolescents (AOR = 3.80, P = 0.03). School disengagement did not mediate the association between gender stigma awareness and substance use for non-Latinx students but mediated 50% of this association for low-performing students. Conclusions Gender stigma awareness is associated with adolescent risky health behaviors. A decreased sense of acceptance in the school community and increased school misbehavior may mediate these associations. School environments that value and accept all students may better support adolescent health.

2014 ◽  
Vol 116 (13) ◽  
pp. 232-252
Author(s):  
Janine Bempechat ◽  
Maureen E. Kenny ◽  
David L. Blustein ◽  
Joanne R. Seltzer

This chapter presents findings of a three-year longitudinal study of academic motivation and school engagement among low-income high school students enrolled in a corporate work–study program. Our findings demonstrate ways in which the workplace functioned for students as a conduit of emotional resources, offering instrumental support from caring and competent adults, knowledge about the connection between work and school, and an opportunity to occupy the essential adult role of worker.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-119
Author(s):  
Tamás Berki ◽  
Bettina F. Pikó

Background: Social exclusion usually contributes to an increased vulnerability to mental health problems and risky health behaviors. This study aims to identify the role of health behavior in the increased risk of depressive symptoms among adolescents during the coronavirus pandemic in Hungary. Methods: A total of 705 high school students participated in our study (M = 15.9 years; SD = 1.19). The self-administered questionnaire included items about sociodemographics, eating habits, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and substance use. Depressive symptoms were measured using the short version of the Child Depression Inventory. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze our results. Results: Daily fruit and vegetable consumption was reported by 21.7% and 22.4% of respondents, respectively. The proportion of the respondents reporting daily sweets consumption stood at 13.2%, daily soft drinks consumption was 12.3%, and daily energy drink consumption tallied to 4.5%. More than one-third of the sample (35.5%) reported having breakfast every school day, which rose to 68.1% of the sample reporting breakfast on both weekend days. The rate of students engaged in daily physical activity was 6.5%, while 86.1% of them reported more than four hours screen time in a day. In addition, despite the mandatory confinement, a notable percentage of adolescents engaged in substance use. Consistent with previous studies, girls had a higher risk of depression. Low levels of physical activity and high levels of screen time – as well as alcohol and drug use – were associated with a high risk of depression. Conclusions: We believe our study provided useful information on adolescent health behaviors that can lead to adolescents’ depression, and that maintaining physical activity can prevent it even in these unusual circumstances.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1_part_4) ◽  
pp. 2156759X2110400
Author(s):  
Edward C. Fletcher ◽  
James L. Moore

Using a qualitative case study approach, this investigation focused specifically on the school and home experiences of low-income, African American males who had attended a career academy focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. With semistructured interviews of individuals and focus groups, we investigated the school and home experiences of African American male former high school students and how these experiences influenced their overall educational pursuit. This study concentrated on the specific research question: What are the unique identities, school experiences, and life challenges of low-income, African American males? Data analysis revealed three salient themes: (a) missing critical school and home supports, (b) searching for significant relationships and role models, and (c) desiring to earn money to provide for their families. Based on these qualitative themes, we offer specific strategies that school personnel, such as school counselors, can use to increase school engagement and success among low-income, African American males.


AERA Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 233285842110533
Author(s):  
Jay Stratte Plasman ◽  
Michael A. Gottfried ◽  
Daniel J. Klasik

Encouraging school engagement is crucial to promoting positive outcomes for high school students. One potential means to promote school engagement may be through career and technical education (CTE) coursework, which is specifically designed to be educationally engaging, particularly for vulnerable populations such as those from low-income backgrounds. Yet, little is known about whether these courses do in fact link to higher school engagement. Through analysis of the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009—a nationally representative data set—we explored the link between STEM-focused CTE (STEM-CTE) coursetaking and school engagement for low-income students. To do so, we employed an instrumental variable estimation technique and found that taking STEM-CTE courses related to higher school engagement for low-income students. We conclude with a discussion of implications for students, practitioners, and policymakers.


Author(s):  
Amanda Michiko Shigihara

Restaurant workers in the United States exhibit high levels of alcohol and drug use. However, there is a scant amount of qualitative research uncovering how and why restaurant employees use and abuse legal and illegal substances. Examining restaurant workers’ self-reported risky health behaviors is important for improving employee and occupational quality of life. The purpose of this article is to investigate the health behaviors of restaurant workers and pathways to such outcomes. Specifically, this article explores the question of what social conditions and processes within restaurants relate to employee adverse health behaviors. Drawing on qualitative data collected between 2009 and 2014, this article focuses on a case study of restaurant employees, detailing their substance use and the ways in which they discuss and talk about taking health risks. An analysis of 52 in-depth, semistructured interviews with restaurant workers broadens the theoretical explanation for deviant health behaviors in the service sector. Results indicate that workplace characteristics—such as occupational socialization, norms and values, job stress and coping mechanisms, social networks and friendships, and personnel policies—permit and encourage substance use and risky health behaviors. Research implications include underscoring service industry adverse health behaviors and recommendations for positive social change in terms of personal, social, and job-related well-being.


Author(s):  
Estibaliz Ramos-Díaz ◽  
Arantzazu Rodríguez-Fernández ◽  
Lorena Revuelta ◽  
Inge Axpe

The view of the school as a enviromental promoter of personal well-being has raised great interest in the study of variables related to positive development of students in the field of psychoeducational research. This study aims to test a structural model which posits both direct and indirect influence of perceived teacher support through school engagement on satisfaction with life. The study comprised 1250 students of compulsory secondary education aged between 12 and 15 years (Mage=13.72; SD=1.09) randomly selected in the Basque Country, of whom 612 (49%) were male and 638 (50 %) female. The results confirm the influence exerted by perceived teacher support on satisfaction with life through school engagement (²(51)=219.743, p<.001; GFI=.972; CFI=.965; TLI=.954; SRMR=.031; RMSEA=.051). Finally, the results and their implications, as well as the future research perspectives are discussed.


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