School culture and student mental health: a qualitative study in UK secondary schools
Abstract Background There is consistency of evidence on the link between school culture and student health. A positive school culture has been associated with positive child and youth development, effective risk prevention and health promotion efforts, with extensive evidence for the impact on stude...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13034-x |
| _version_ | 1819025756770009088 |
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| author | Patricia Jessiman Judi Kidger Liam Spencer Emma Geijer-Simpson Greta Kaluzeviciute Anne–Marie Burn Naomi Leonard Mark Limmer |
| author_facet | Patricia Jessiman Judi Kidger Liam Spencer Emma Geijer-Simpson Greta Kaluzeviciute Anne–Marie Burn Naomi Leonard Mark Limmer |
| author_sort | Patricia Jessiman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There is consistency of evidence on the link between school culture and student health. A positive school culture has been associated with positive child and youth development, effective risk prevention and health promotion efforts, with extensive evidence for the impact on student mental health. Interventions which focus on socio-cultural elements of school life, and which involve students actively in the process, are increasingly understood to be important for student mental health promotion. This qualitative study was undertaken in three UK secondary schools prior to the implementation of a participative action research study bringing students and staff together to identify changes to school culture that might impact student mental health. The aim was to identify how school culture is conceptualised by students, parents and staff in three UK secondary schools. A secondary aim was to explore which components of school culture were perceived to be most important for student mental health. Methods Across three schools, 27 staff and seven parents participated in in-depth interviews, and 28 students participated in four focus groups. The Framework Method of thematic analysis was applied. Results Respondents identified elements of school culture that aligned into four dimensions; structure and context, organisational and academic, community, and safety and support. There was strong evidence of the interdependence of the four dimensions in shaping the culture of a school. Conclusions School staff who seek to shape and improve school culture as a means of promoting student mental health may have better results if this interdependence is acknowledged, and improvements are addressed across all four dimensions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T05:15:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7dc3d4c3bff24fed84fe433fd69cb640 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T05:15:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-7dc3d4c3bff24fed84fe433fd69cb6402022-12-21T19:14:55ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-03-0122111810.1186/s12889-022-13034-xSchool culture and student mental health: a qualitative study in UK secondary schoolsPatricia Jessiman0Judi Kidger1Liam Spencer2Emma Geijer-Simpson3Greta Kaluzeviciute4Anne–Marie Burn5Naomi Leonard6Mark Limmer7Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of BristolBristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of BristolFaculty of Medical Sciences, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle UniversityFaculty of Medical Sciences, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle UniversitySchool of Clinical Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeSchool of Clinical Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeBristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of BristolDivision of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster UniversityAbstract Background There is consistency of evidence on the link between school culture and student health. A positive school culture has been associated with positive child and youth development, effective risk prevention and health promotion efforts, with extensive evidence for the impact on student mental health. Interventions which focus on socio-cultural elements of school life, and which involve students actively in the process, are increasingly understood to be important for student mental health promotion. This qualitative study was undertaken in three UK secondary schools prior to the implementation of a participative action research study bringing students and staff together to identify changes to school culture that might impact student mental health. The aim was to identify how school culture is conceptualised by students, parents and staff in three UK secondary schools. A secondary aim was to explore which components of school culture were perceived to be most important for student mental health. Methods Across three schools, 27 staff and seven parents participated in in-depth interviews, and 28 students participated in four focus groups. The Framework Method of thematic analysis was applied. Results Respondents identified elements of school culture that aligned into four dimensions; structure and context, organisational and academic, community, and safety and support. There was strong evidence of the interdependence of the four dimensions in shaping the culture of a school. Conclusions School staff who seek to shape and improve school culture as a means of promoting student mental health may have better results if this interdependence is acknowledged, and improvements are addressed across all four dimensions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13034-xSchool cultureSchool climateMental healthQualitativeChildrenYoung people |
| spellingShingle | Patricia Jessiman Judi Kidger Liam Spencer Emma Geijer-Simpson Greta Kaluzeviciute Anne–Marie Burn Naomi Leonard Mark Limmer School culture and student mental health: a qualitative study in UK secondary schools BMC Public Health School culture School climate Mental health Qualitative Children Young people |
| title | School culture and student mental health: a qualitative study in UK secondary schools |
| title_full | School culture and student mental health: a qualitative study in UK secondary schools |
| title_fullStr | School culture and student mental health: a qualitative study in UK secondary schools |
| title_full_unstemmed | School culture and student mental health: a qualitative study in UK secondary schools |
| title_short | School culture and student mental health: a qualitative study in UK secondary schools |
| title_sort | school culture and student mental health a qualitative study in uk secondary schools |
| topic | School culture School climate Mental health Qualitative Children Young people |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13034-x |
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