Bullying Climate and School Engagement in Ninth‐Grade Students

BACKGROUND: Many authorities agree that bullying has a widespread impact on school climate, affecting bystanders as well as victims. This study tested the contention that a climate of bullying can have a schoolwide impact on student engagement in school. METHODS: Hierarchical linear modeling assessed the relations between student perception of bullying climate and student engagement at the individual and school level in a statewide sample of 7058 ninth graders randomly selected from 289 schools participating in the Virginia High School Safety Study. Student engagement was assessed by self‐report scales measuring commitment to school and involvement in school activities. RESULTS: Individual differences in perception of school climate characterized by bullying were associated with lower commitment to school, but not less involvement in school activities. School‐level differences in student perceptions of bullying climate were associated with both lower commitment to school and less involvement in school activities, after controlling for the effects of gender, race, school size, proportion of ethnic minority students in the school, and individual‐level perception of bullying climate. CONCLUSION: Efforts to improve student engagement should consider the schoolwide impact of bullying on all students.     

中学生自杀意念与受欺侮经历现状及相关关系

目的 探讨中学生自杀意念与受同学欺侮经历的现况及相关关系，为开展相关研究及干预提供依据。方法 采用《青少年生活环境与心理健康量表》中国版对普通中学初、高中学生851名进行横断面调查，通过t检验、Logiatic回归等方法分析其相关关系。结果 17．3％的中学生在过去1个月中有过自杀的想法，23．6％的中学生在过去1a中曾被同学欺侮。自杀意念与受同学欺侮的经历呈正相关。被暴力伤害、威胁的经历与男生的自杀意念呈正相关；而对女生而言，被语言伤害是自杀意念的预测因素。结论 中学生产生自杀意念与受同学欺侮的现象都不少见，而且二间存在正相关关系。在进行心理干预时应考虑到这种相关性，同时注意性别差异。     

National Analysis of State Health Policies on Students' Right to Self‐Carry and Self‐Administer Asthma Inhalers at School

BACKGROUND

Asthma has no known cure, and though manageable, it disrupts the everyday lives of over 6 million US children. Because children spend more than half of their waking hours in school, students must be able to carry and administer their inhaler at school to manage their asthma.

METHODS

This policy paper is a comprehensive review of all 50 states and the District of Columbia's laws and policies for the self‐carry and administration of quick‐relief asthma inhalers among children in prekindergarten through 12th grade.

RESULTS

All states permit students to carry and administer their inhalers at school, although each state differs in their development and implementation of policies for asthma self‐management at school. This review examines how states regulate self‐carry policies by looking at policy development, regulated school systems, relevant stakeholders, required medical records, and school liability.

CONCLUSIONS

Each state's laws have nuances that create gray areas, increasing the potential of misinterpreted or incorrectly implemented policies for asthma self‐management at school. As a result, children may not have immediate access to their inhaler for symptom management or in an emergency. State policymakers should reform current laws to remove barriers for students to carry and use inhalers at school.