Study of School Violence Impact on Mental Health and Education in Grades 6-12 Across U.S. Public Schools

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how school safety strategies affect mental health, perceived safety, and academic engagement among students and staff in U.S. K-12 public schools. This observational case-control study compares experiences between schools that have faced a gun shooting incident and those that have not, focusing on mental health outcomes, adverse childhood experiences, and school safety perceptions. The study involves students, teachers, and principals from 12 nationally representative schools, examining the impact of school violence exposure and safety interventions. Data collection involves separate surveys for students, teachers, and principals. Students complete a 25-minute survey assessing mental health, well-being, adverse childhood experiences, and perceptions of safety using validated tools like the Patient Health Questionnaire, Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen, WHO-5 Well-Being Index, and Student Engagement Instrument. Teachers and principals complete shorter surveys online or during school days. Researchers also review school safety plans and gather data on various security measures and school discipline indicators. Participants provide self-reported data on demographics, mental health, school safety, and educational outcomes. The study includes detailed statistical analyses to compare mental health and safety perceptions between schools with recent or past shooting incidents and those without. Data confidentiality is maintained through coded identifiers. The research team monitors survey responses and uses multiple imputation methods to address missing data. The total participation involves survey completion over approximately six months.

School Violence Exposure as an Adverse Childhood Experience