School Choice at a Cost? Academic Achievement, School Satisfaction and Psychological Complaints among Students in Disadvantaged Areas of Stockholm

Maria Granvik Saminathen, Sara B. Låftman and Bitte Modin
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Maria Granvik Saminathen: Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
Sara B. Låftman: Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
Bitte Modin: Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: School choice allows students from more disadvantaged district areas in metropolitan Swedish cities to commute to more prestigious schools outside of their residential area. This study examined how such students fare compared to their peers who attend more deprived schools in their own district area. Multilevel analysis was applied, estimating 2-level random intercept linear regression models based on cross-sectional survey data collected among ninth grade students in 2014 and 2016 ( n = 2105). Analyses showed that students living in relatively disadvantaged district areas of Stockholm who chose to attend more prestigious schools outside of their residential area performed better academically compared to students who opted to remain at more deprived schools in their catchment area, an association that was partly mediated by school quality in terms of teacher-rated school ethos. Yet, commuting students reported lower school satisfaction and more psychological complaints than students who stayed behind, even when taking academic achievement and school ethos into account. The association with psychological complaints was partly mediated by school satisfaction. Thus, the academic gain associated with having chosen to commute from a disadvantaged area to a more prestigious school does not appear to translate into higher school satisfaction and better psychological well-being.

Keywords: school choice; segregation; inequality; adolescents; well-being; school ethos (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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