Socioemotional Health, Trauma Exposure, and Internalizing Symptoms in Students Attending an Alternative High School

• Published in: American journal of orthopsychiatry 2023-01, Vol.93 (3), p.269-278
• Main Authors: Sung, Angelina, Rubens, Sonia L., Soliemannjad, Rose R., Zeringue, Megan M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anxiety; Anxiety - psychology; Anxiety Disorders; Consciousness; Families & family life; Family; Female; Health research; High School Students; Human; Humans; Internalizing Symptoms; Major Depression; Male; Mental depression; Mental Health; Nontraditional Education; Schools; Secondary school students; Self awareness; Social support; Students - psychology; Symptoms; Trauma
• ISSN: 0002-9432; 1939-0025
• DOI: 10.1037/ort0000678

Students attending alternative schools often present with internalizing symptoms, likely related to high rates of trauma. Little is known about factors that buffer the relationship between trauma exposure and internalizing symptoms in this population. The present study examined the role of internal (i.e., self-efficacy, self-awareness, persistence) and external resources (i.e., peer support, family coherence, school support) as buffers in the association between trauma exposure and symptoms of depression and anxiety in 113 students (55% female, 91% Black, 8% Hispanic or Latinx, Mage = 18.0, SD = 1.5) attending an alternative school in a large, southeastern city. Results showed that trauma exposure was positively associated with depression and anxiety symptoms, while self-awareness and family coherence were negatively associated with depression and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, significant interactions revealed that trauma exposure was associated with depression symptoms at low but not high levels of self-awareness, and at low but not high levels of family coherence. Understanding strengths to support alternative high school students exposed to trauma is a valuable component of mental health intervention. Future research should investigate ways to cultivate self-awareness and enhance family coherence to address the complex needs of alternative school students. Public Policy Relevance Statement Despite having a significant history of trauma exposure, alternative high school students who had more self-awareness and family coherence had less symptoms of depression and anxiety. Educational institutions should consider protective factors when developing policies to support the mental health functioning of alternative school students, as well as consider incorporating trauma-informed educational practices given the high rates of trauma among their students.