School-level Poverty and Persistent Feelings of Sadness or Hopelessness among U.S. High School Students

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved has revealed a significant association between school-level poverty status and students' persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, suicidality, and experiences with violence victimization among U.S. high school students. The research, conducted by the Division of Adolescent and School Health, analyzed data from the 2015 and 2017 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. The findings indicate that students in high-poverty schools were significantly more likely to experience persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, experience suicidal thoughts and attempts, and be victims of violence compared to their peers in low-poverty schools.

Key Takeaways:

  • Students in high-poverty schools were significantly more likely to experience persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, with 24.5% of students reporting such feelings compared to 9.5% in low-poverty schools (Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2020).
  • High-poverty schools were associated with higher rates of suicidality, with 10.2% of students reporting suicidal thoughts and attempts compared to 3.4% in low-poverty schools (Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2020).
  • Students in high-poverty schools were more likely to experience violence victimization, with 22.1% of students reporting being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property compared to 6.3% in low-poverty schools (Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2020).
  • The study highlighted the importance of school and community approaches to address suicide and violence victimization, particularly for students living in poverty (Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2020).
  • The research included a sample size of 29,448 students from public high schools in the United States (Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2020).
  • The study was conducted by the Division of Adolescent and School Health, with additional authors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Johns Hopkins University, and other research institutions (Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2020).
  • The research was published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, a leading international journal focused on healthcare and health inequities (Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2020).

Statistics:

  • 24.5% of students in high-poverty schools experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness (Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2020).
  • 10.2% of students in high-poverty schools reported suicidal thoughts and attempts (Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2020).
  • 22.1% of students in high-poverty schools reported being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property (Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2020).
  • 29,448 students were included in the study sample (Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2020).

Sources:

  • School-level Poverty and Persistent Feelings of Sadness or Hopelessness, Suicidality, and Experiences With Violence Victimization Among Public High School Students. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2020;31(3):1248-1263.
  • Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States.