School bonding and ethos in trajectories of offending: results from the Belfast Youth Development Study

Higgins, K., Perra, O., Jordan, J.-A., O'Neill, T. and McCann, M. (2020) School bonding and ethos in trajectories of offending: results from the Belfast Youth Development Study. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(2), pp. 424-448. (doi: 10.1111/bjep.12303) (PMID:32065389) (PMCID:PMC7317740)

[img]
Preview
Text
207970.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

431kB

Abstract

Background: Aspects of the school environment, such as school attachment levels, are linked to adolescent offending. Previous research has not clarified whether a school‐ or individual‐level intervention approach to improving pupil school attachment and commitment is most likely to reduce adolescent offending. Aim: The present study assessed the impact of individual‐ and school‐level variables on offending behaviour from ages 14–16 years. Sample: The participants were 4,049 young people from 42 mainstream schools who took part in the Belfast Youth Development Study. Method: Multilevel modelling was used to examine the relative influence of individual‐ and school‐level variables on offending behaviour in adolescence. Results: Pupils who had high levels of school commitment and attachment and were involved in fewer fights at age 13 reported lower levels of offending at age 14 years. Differences between schools accounted for 7% of the variation in offending. Lower individual‐level commitment was associated with higher initial levels of offending at age 14 if the school‐level ethos was of higher commitment. Lack of safety at the school level appeared to be detrimental for young people not exposed to socio‐economic deprivation. Conclusions: Individual‐level targeted interventions are likely to be a more cost‐effective approach of reducing offending behaviour in adolescence. Additional, albeit smaller, reductions in offending levels could be achieved through school‐level interventions in some school types (e.g., deprived areas).

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This research was funded by HSC Research and Development NI & The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland. MMcC holds a Medical Research Council/University fellowship supported by an MRC partnership grant (MC/PC/13 027) and is part of the MRC/CSO SPHSU Complexity (MC_UU_12017/14/SPHSU14) and relationship (MC_UU_12017/11/SPHSU11) programmes.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McCann, Dr Mark
Authors: Higgins, K., Perra, O., Jordan, J.-A., O'Neill, T., and McCann, M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
Journal Name:British Journal of Educational Psychology
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0007-0998
ISSN (Online):2044-8279
Published Online:17 February 2020
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 The Authors
First Published:First published in British Journal of Educational Psychology 90(2):424-448
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons license

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
168560MRC SPHSU/GU Transfer FellowshipsLaurence MooreMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_PC_13027SHW - MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit
727661Complexity in Health ImprovementLaurence MooreMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/14HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
727661Complexity in Health ImprovementLaurence MooreOffice of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)SPHSU14HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
727631Social Relationships & Health ImprovementLisa McDaidMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/11HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
727631Social Relationships & Health ImprovementLisa McDaidOffice of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)SPHSU11HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit