School Selectivity, Peers, and Mental Health

Aline Bütikofer, Rita Ginja, Fanny Landaud () and Katrine Løken
Additional contact information
Fanny Landaud: CNRS

No 13796, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Although many students suffer from anxiety and depression, and students often identify school pressure and concerns about their futures as the main reasons for their worries, little is known about the consequences of a selective school environment on students' physical and mental health. In this paper, we draw on rich administrative data and the features of the high school assignment system in the largest Norwegian cities to consider the long-term consequences of enrollment in a more selective high school. Using a regression discontinuity analysis, we show that eligibility to enroll in a more selective high school increases the probability of enrollment in higher education and decreases the probability of diagnosis or treatment by a general medical practitioner for psychological symptoms and diseases. We further document that enrolling in a more selective high school has a greater positive impact when there are larger changes in the student-teacher ratio, teachers' age, and the proportion of female teachers. These findings suggest that changes in teacher characteristics are important for better understanding the effects of a more selective school environment.

Keywords: higher education; selective high schools; mental health; peers; health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I21 I26 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 60 pages
Date: 2020-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-hea and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

Published - published as 'Higher-Achievement Schools, Peers and Mental Health' in: Economic Journal, 2023, 133 (655), 2580–2613

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https://docs.iza.org/dp13796.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: School selectivity, peers, and mental health (2021)
Working Paper: School Selectivity, Peers, and Mental Health (2020)
Working Paper: School Selectivity, Peers, and Mental Health (2020)
Working Paper: School Selectivity, Peers, and Mental Health (2020)
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