Investigating health adversity and school engagement among clinically referred children and youth using the interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health Assessment

Janell A. Klassen and Shannon L. Stewart

Children and Youth Services Review, 2022, vol. 136, issue C

Abstract: Students faced with health problems are often disadvantaged with respect to many educational outcomes. Social skills and personal strengths can support school engagement and promote educational success. Utilizing the interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health assessment system, the present study investigated how relational and individual strengths may mitigate the distressing impact of physical and mental health concerns on school engagement among 8218 clinically referred elementary and secondary school students. Findings confirmed that the presence of significant physical and mental health distress is associated with greater school engagement problems among students. Further, individual and relational strengths were found to be associated with school engagement among both children and youth. Among school-age children (ages 4–11 years), school engagement problems were predicted by male sex, older age, medical problems, internalizing symptoms, externalizing problems, and relational problems. Relatedly, school engagement problems were predicted among youth (ages 12–18 years) by male sex, sleep problems, externalizing problems, low individual strengths, and relational problems. Considerations for promoting school engagement within the school context through an emphasis on relational and individual skills development are provided.

Keywords: Physical health; Mental health; Sleep; Social skills; Talents; School; Engagement; interRAI (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:136:y:2022:i:c:s019074092200055x

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106419

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