A Multinational Study Exploring Adolescent Perception of School Climate and Mental Health

• Published in: School psychology 2021-05, Vol.36 (3), p.155-166
• Main Authors: La Salle, Tamika P., Rocha-Neves, Jesslynn, Jimerson, Shane, Di Sano, Sergio, Martinsone, Baiba, Majercakova Albertova, Silvia, Gajdošová, Eva, Baye, Ariane, Deltour, Caroline, Martinelli, Victor, Raykov, Milosh, Hatzichristou, Chryse, Palikara, Olympia, Szabó, Éva, Arlauskaite, Zydre, Athanasiou, Danai, Brown-Earle, Orlean, Casale, Gino, Lampropoulou, Aikaterini, Mikhailova, Aleksandra, Pinskaya, Marina, Zvyagintsev, Roman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Correlation; Cross Cultural Psychology; Cultural Differences; Educational Environment; Female; Foreign Countries; Human; Male; Mental Health; School Environment; School Psychology; School Safety; Secondary School Students; Student Attitudes; Student Characteristics; Student School Relationship; Teenagers
• ISSN: 2578-4218; 2578-4226
• DOI: 10.1037/spq0000430

School climate is a topic of increasing importance internationally. The current study investigated the established measurement invariance of an eight-factor school climate scale using a multinational sample of secondary students. School climate factor means across 14 international groups were compared and findings on the association between school climate factors and mental health were also investigated. Findings, from this study, illustrate several cross-national similarities regarding the ways in which secondary students perceive school climate and the influence of school climate on student mental health. These findings can support school psychologists' efforts to identify strategies and supports that improve the school environment in areas that are most consistently related to student experiences, such as school safety and school connectedness. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed. Impact and Implications Statement This study contributes insights regarding cross-national perceptions of school climate and mental health. The findings from the current study inform school personnel efforts to develop and implement school improvement strategies that data shows have a notable impact on student experiences. Such information can be established and applied globally while also recognizing the additional influence of localized norms when implementing strategies or interventions.