Citation

Sonsteng-Person M, Jaggers JW, Loomis AM. J. Child Adolesc. Trauma 2023; 16(3): 717-729.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s40653-023-00546-w

PMID

37593062

PMCID

PMC10427593

Abstract

Disparities in educational outcomes for students living in communities burdened with high rates of violence are striking as they are at an increased risk for misbehavior, low GPA, poor school attendance, and decreased standardized test scores. However, limited research identifies the role that schools play in exacerbating exposure to violence to inform changes that aid in mitigating violence exposure. As such, this study utilizes the Pathways to Desistance Study to explore the mediating roles of school attachment and motivation to succeed on students' academic outcomes after exposure to community violence. Using a serial mediation model, findings indicate that school attachment and motivation to succeed mediate the relationship between exposure to violence and grades. Implications for adapting school programs and policies as well as providing teacher training to increase school attachment and motivation are discussed.

Language: en

Keywords

Violence exposure; Academic outcomes; Motivation to succeed; School attachment; Serial mediation