Exploring the Relationship between Early Leaving of Education and Training and Mental Health among Youth in Spain

Laura M. Guerrero-Puerta and Miguel A. Guerrero ()
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Laura M. Guerrero-Puerta: Department of Social Psychology and Education, University Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Seville, Spain
Miguel A. Guerrero: Independent Researcher, 29680 Málaga, Spain

Societies, 2023, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: This study aimed to explore the relationship between Early Leaving Education and Training and mental health perceived by young Spanish school leavers, as well as develop mid-range theories to better understand this relationship. The study uses a grounded theory approach; specifically, Charmaz’s constructivist approach and its informed version have guided the study. Through qualitative interviews with individuals who had left school prematurely, the results of this study showed a bidirectional relationship between ELET and mental health, where the detriment in the mental health of young people who leave school early should be understood as both a cause and an effect of the process of ELET. In addition, the findings suggest that certain socio-economic and educational factors, such as bullying, academic stress, self-responsibilization of failure, and labels such as “NEET” can contribute to a decrease in mental health. Overall, this study has provided new insights into the ELET-mental health relationship, contributing to the development of mid-range theories that can inform future research and interventions to minimize these problems.

Keywords: early leaving education and training; mental health; youth; bullying; social isolation; self-esteem; labor aspirations; academic stressors; hyper-responsibilization; NEET (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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