Vulnerabilities and academic outcomes among students in Puerto Rico

ABSTRACT

Violence and health inequalities impact the academic outcomes of students, especially among minority groups. This study examines the differences in grade retention and dropout intentions with respect to exposure to violence and to mental health (anxiety, depression, and trauma) among youth living in Puerto Rico. Data from 566 students of fifth to twelfth grade in Puerto Rico were collected as part of a school-based service program. A two-way ANOVA showed no significant differences in exposure to violence and mental health among students with and without a history of grade retention. However, students who reported dropout intentions showed higher exposure to violence and mental health issues. These results highlight the value of assessing mental health and contextual indicators in designing interventions to prevent adverse academic outcomes in vulnerable populations.

KEYWORDS:

• Anxiety
• depression
• exposure to violence
• grade retention
• school dropout

Disclosure statement

The authors reported no potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The service program “Traumatic Events in Children: An Evidence-Based Step-Care Model as Alternative for its Management and Mitigation” was supported by the Puerto Rico Department of Justice under the Victims of Crime Act grant for the CONVOCA project [#2015-VA-UPRRC-01].

Notes on contributors

Israel Sánchez-Cardona

Israel Sánchez-Cardona is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychological Sciences, Kennesaw State University (Georgia, U.S.). He holds a PhD in psychology from the University of Puerto Rico and a PhD in work and organizational psychology from Universitat Jaume I (Spain). He works as researcher and consultant in research methods and statistics in projects related to occupational health, community violence, positive parenting, anxiety and depression, and the effectiveness of evidence-based practices. His research interests focus on occupational health psychology, positive psychology applied to academic and organizational contexts, work and academic engagement, psychological capital, job boredom, and quantitative research methods.

Coralee Pérez Pedrogo

Coralee Pérez Pedrogo is a licensed clinical psychologist and an Associate Professor at Albizu University and Assistant Researcher Professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. Dr. Pérez Pedrogo has expertise in clinical research studies that provide evidence-based interventions for affective disorders (major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder) and substance use disorders. Her research interests focus on community violence, evidence-based interventions, health psychology, HIV, psychological trauma, translational research, substance use disorders, and stigma.

Stephanie Lopez-Torres

Stephanie López-Torres is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at Carlos Albizu University, San Juan Campus. She has an MS in clinical psychology and has authored and co-authored several articles related to the evaluation of psychometric properties of instruments among Latino/Hispanic youth. Her main interests in the field of clinical psychology include substance use disorders, depression, and trauma, especially among minorities and at-risk communities.

Marizaida Sánchez-Cesáreo

Marizaida Sánchez-Cesáreo is the Third Mission Institute Executive Director at Carlos Albizu University (San Juan, Puerto Rico). She has a PhD in community–clinical psychology with a specialization in women studies from DePaul University. She has extensive experience in program evaluation, capacity building, technical assistance, evidence-based research, and community interventions.