Relationships between bullying, school climate, and student risk behaviors.

TLDR

The study investigated whether a positive school climate is linked to reduced risk behaviors among 3,687 high‑school students. The authors used confirmatory factor analysis to validate three school‑climate scales and then applied structural equation modeling to connect these scales to student risk‑behavior reports. Multigroup analyses revealed that a positive school climate protects against risk behaviors, with effects varying by gender and race.

Abstract

This study examined whether characteristics of a positive school climate were associated with lower student risk behavior in a sample of 3,687 high school students who completed the School Climate Bullying Survey and questions about risk behavior from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBS). Confirmatory factor analyses established fit for 20 items with three hypothesized school climate scales measuring (1) prevalence of bullying and teasing; (2) aggressive attitudes; and (3) student willingness to seek help. Structural equation modeling established the relationship of these measures with student reports of risk behavior. Multigroup analyses identified differential effects across gender and race. A positive school climate could be an important protective factor in preventing student risk behavior.