Authors:
Mander DJ, Lester L, Cross D.
Authors notes:
International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health. 2015;8(2):131-40.
Keywords:
Medical Sciences--Pediatrics, Secondary school students, Boarding schools, Transitions, Mental health, Emotions
Abstract:
This paper explores the social and emotional wellbeing and mental health complexities for Western Australian adolescents when they transition to a secondary boarding school.
It presents data taken from a larger longitudinal quantitative study which included 76 male and 74 female boarding students while they were in Grades 7 and 8.
This study used Chi-squared analyses to determine differences between boarders' and non-boarders' transition experiences, and separate multilevel regression models to determine whether boarder status was a predictor of social and emotional wellbeing and mental health following their transition to a secondary boarding school.
Prior to attending a secondary school no difference existed between boarders and non-boarders with regards to social and emotional wellbeing and mental health.
However, post-transition boarding students reported experiencing a significantly higher incidence rate of emotional difficulties and greater levels of depression, anxiety and stress than non-boarders.
Significantly, it was found that emotional and mental health factors rather than the social factors, mediated boarding students overall sense of wellbeing while they schooled away from home.