Citation

Jones SE, Underwood JM, Pampati S, Le VD, DeGue S, Demissie Z, Adkins SH, Barrios LC. J. Health Care Poor Underserved 2020; 31(3): 1248-1263.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Johns Hopkins University Press)

DOI

10.1353/hpu.2020.0092

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between school-level poverty status and students' persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, suicidality, and experiences with violence victimization among U.S. high school students.

METHODS: Public schools captured in the 2015 and 2017 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were categorized as high-, mid-, or low-poverty based on the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals (N=29,448).

RESULTS: Students in high-poverty schools were significantly more likely than students in low-poverty schools to experience persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, experience suicidal thoughts and attempts, not go to school because of safety concerns, be threatened or injured with a weapon on school property, be bullied on school property, be physically forced to have sexual intercourse, and be victims of sexual and physical dating violence.

CONCLUSIONS: School and community approaches to address suicide and violence victimization may be especially important for students living in poverty.

Language: en