PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Study: Negative classroom environment adversely affects children's mental health

Negatives include inadequate resources, teachers who feel colleagues don't respect them

2011-03-09
(Press-News.org) WASHINGTON, DC, March 3, 2011 — Children in classrooms with inadequate material resources and children whose teachers feel they are not respected by colleagues exhibit more mental health problems than students in classrooms without these issues, finds a new study in the March issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

"Sociologists and other researchers spend a lot of time looking at work environments and how they are linked to the mental health of adults, but we pay less attention to the relationship between kids' well-being and their 'work' environments—namely their schools and more specifically their classrooms," said Melissa A. Milkie, a sociology professor at the University of Maryland, who led the study. "Our research shows that the classroom environment really matters when it comes to children's mental health."

According to Milkie, who co-authored the study, "Classroom Learning Environments and the Mental Health of First Grade Children," with Catharine H. Warner, a sociology PhD candidate at the University of Maryland, policymakers typically measure school quality and teacher effectiveness in terms of academic outcomes such as test scores. But, Milkie said, their study demonstrates that schools and teachers also impact children's mental health, making it a barometer that deserves more attention.

"I think parents care a lot about their children's mental health—their emotional and behavioral well being—but we as a society don't tend to focus on that as an important educational outcome nearly as much as we talk about and think about academic outcomes," said Milkie.

The study relies on a nationally representative sample of approximately 10,700 first graders, whose parents and teachers were interviewed.

As part of their study, the authors considered how the classroom environment impacted four components of mental health: learning (e.g., attentiveness), externalizing problems (e.g., fights), interpersonal behavior (e.g., forming friendships), and internalizing problems (e.g., anxiety and sadness).

Children in classrooms with inadequate material resources and children whose teachers felt their colleagues did not respect them experienced worse mental health across all four measures.

The material resources ranged from basics such as paper, pencils, and heat to child-friendly furnishings, computers, musical instruments, and art supplies.

"Being in a classroom with a lack of resources might adversely impact children's mental health because children are frustrated or disheartened by their surroundings," Milkie said. "Teachers also may be more discouraged or harsh when they can't teach properly due to the fact that they are missing key elements."

Regarding children whose teachers felt their colleagues did not respect them, Milkie suggested there is an adverse trickle down effect on students.

"For teachers to get the support and encouragement that they need from colleagues, including the principal, is likely important for whether the teachers are able to create a classroom climate that helps children thrive," Milkie said. "If teachers are feeling stressed out because they aren't getting what they need from their colleagues, that stress may carry over to the kids."

While the study focuses on first graders, Milkie expects similar results for older children. "I would be surprised if there were different findings for older children, but our study only looks at first graders so we can't be certain," Milkie said.

###

About the American Sociological Association and the Journal of Health and Social Behavior

The American Sociological Association (www.asanet.org), founded in 1905, is a non-profit membership association dedicated to serving sociologists in their work, advancing sociology as a science and profession, and promoting the contributions to and use of sociology by society. The Journal of Health and Social Behavior is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal of the ASA.

The research article described above is available by request for members of the media. For a copy of the full study, contact Daniel Fowler, ASA's Media Relations and Public Affairs Officer, at (202) 527-7885 or pubinfo@asanet.org.

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

The most distant mature galaxy cluster

The most distant mature galaxy cluster
2011-03-09
"We have measured the distance to the most distant mature cluster of galaxies ever found", says the lead author of the study in which the observations from ESO's VLT have been used, Raphael Gobat (CEA, Paris). "The surprising thing is that when we look closely at this galaxy cluster it doesn't look young -- many of the galaxies have settled down and don't resemble the usual star-forming galaxies seen in the early Universe." Clusters of galaxies are the largest structures in the Universe that are held together by gravity. Astronomers expect these clusters to grow through ...

Americans have higher rates of most chronic diseases than same-age counterparts in England

2011-03-09
Researchers announced today in the American Journal of Epidemiology that despite the high level of spending on healthcare in the United States compared to England, Americans experience higher rates of chronic disease and markers of disease than their English counterparts at all ages.. Why health status differs so dramatically in these two countries, which share much in terms of history and culture, is a mystery. The study uses data from two nationally representative surveys (see info below) to compare the health of residents of the United States and England from 0 to ...

New Collections Added By Kris Hardy Canvas Art

2011-03-09
Always trying to keep his collections fresh and up to date, Kris has added a selection of new work for 2011. And it's been another bust start to the year for Kris. Early in February saw kris exhibit at Spring Fair 2011 at the NEC for the first time. Spring Fair showcases the best of British and international design led products. It was a successful show for Kris both in terms of showing his artwork to different audiences and making new connections. "My first Spring Fair was a great experience giving me lots of inspiration and new contacts" Kris adds. Kris's canvas ...

New Ways to Improve Your Quality Of Life with a Tens Machine

2011-03-09
Tens Medical Services Ltd can provide a wide range of professional quality Tens machines that could help to improve your quality of life. Why You Should Use a Tens Machine Anyone who suffers from long-term or acute pain can experience a reduction in their quality of life. Persistent and intense pain can be very unpleasant and over time can lead to feelings of depression. Dealing with pain is a challenge for both doctors and patients. Pain relief medication is an effective and fast acting option but has a number of disadvantages including: - Unpleasant and sometimes ...

LightMan Recorder - A Magical Audio Recorder and Text-to-Speech Converter

2011-03-09
LightManTools has announced LightMan Recorder version 1.2.0 LightMan Recorder is the ultimate recording-tool capable of grabbing sounds from any source including CDs, DVDs, tapes, live shows, TV, online radio, video games etc and converting them into audio files easy to be stored on your computer. Furthermore, the app offers text-to-speech conversion featuring natural voices allowing you to listen to your text documents whenever you like and virtually turn your books into audio-books. This may come useful especially as a learning technique or when wanting to make ...

Author Peter Thomas Senese Calls For Support Of Measure 'L': Keep Los Angeles' Libraries Open

2011-03-09
On March 8th, 2011 the citizens of Los Angeles will have an opportunity to vote "Yes" on Measure 'L' and keep the city's revered cultural and educational institution open. By voting 'Yes' on Measure 'L', the citizens of Los Angeles will have the opportunity to significantly impact the financially handicapped Los Angeles Public Library System, which in recent years has received inadequate funding from the city's operating budget. The goal is clear: to reverse the already incomprehensible and highly detrimental damage done to one of the nation's finest cultural and learning ...

Windswept Destiny Publishing Announces Book Signing for BUBBA GOES NATIONAL

2011-03-09
Windswept Destiny Publishing, an imprint of Twin Trinity Media, announced today that Folsom resident Jennifer Walker will sign her debut novel, BUBBA GOES NATIONAL, at The Market Place, 11395 Folsom Blvd. in Rancho Cordova, California, on Saturday, March 12th, 2011 from 2:00PM to 3:00PM. She will also offer Elements of the Soul, an anthology that contains two of her stories. BUBBA GOES NATIONAL is about thirteen-year-old Leslie Clark, who lives with her widowed father. She loves horses, but he can't afford to buy her one. She works for a horse trainer to earn lessons ...

Capitol Lighting Offering Discounts on Various Lighting Fixtures, Including Kitchen Lighting, Bath Vanity Lighting And More

2011-03-09
Is your 70's bathroom with gold bath vanity lights making you blue? Have you had enough with your dingy kitchen lighting? Fall in love with your kitchen and bath again with new lighting fixtures from Capitol Lighting's Love your Kitchen & Bath Event going on now until March 31, 2010. Capitol Lighting, one of the nation's leading retailers of name-brand lighting fixtures with eight showrooms in New Jersey and Florida and worldwide at http://www.1-800lighting.com, is offering great savings of up to 70% off select Kitchen and Bath Lighting fixtures in its showrooms, as ...

Man of the Year: Howard S. Fensterman

2011-03-09
The Board of Trustees of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation (CCFA), Long Island Chapter, has announced that Hewlett Harbor resident, Howard S. Fensterman, Managing Partner of Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Greenberg, Formato and Einiger, LLP (Abrams Fensterman) has been named the organization's 2011 Man of the Year Mr. Fensterman will accept the award at "Laugh 'till It Stops Hurting", the Chapter's annual Spring Comedy Dinner, featuring Joan Rivers. The event will take place Friday, May 20, 2011 at the Glen Oaks Country Club, Old Westbury. The Long Island ...

Streamlined Sports and Concert Ticketing Service Makes Finding Perfect Seat an Effortless Experience

2011-03-09
Ticket Center is changing the way that concertgoers and sports fans approach the ticket purchasing experience. Using the latest version of Seatics Interactive Venue Maps, this online ticket retailer allows purchasers to select cheap concerts tickets or cheap sports tickets from an intuitive virtual venue map. Simplifying a once complicated process, Ticket Center brings the power of educated selection to all event participants. By scrolling over unique locations on Ticket Center's in-depth venue maps, visitors are rewarded with details about the selected location, ticket ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Parched soils can spark hot drought a nation away

Uncovering new physics in metals manufacturing

Sped-up evolution may help bacteria take hold in gut microbiome, UCLA-led research team finds

The dose-dependent effects of dissolved biochar on C. elegans: Insights into the physiological and transcriptomic responses

New research reveals genetic link to most common pediatric bone cancer

Research conducted during 2024 eclipse reveals importance of light on bird behavior

Why does female fertility decline so fast? The key is the ovary

Total solar eclipse triggers dawn behavior in birds

Europe’s largest bats hunt and eat migrating birds on the wing, high in the sky

China’s emerging AI regulation could foster an open and safe future for AI

The secret to naked mole-rat’s longevity: Enhanced DNA repair

Acidic tumor environment promotes survival and growth of cancer cells

New biosensor tracks plants’ immune hormone in real time

New study finds gaps in REDD+ forest carbon offsets with most overstating climate impacts

Mystery solved: How Europe’s largest bat catches and eats passerines mid-air

Pan-disease atlas maps molecular fingerprints of health, disease and aging

New clinical trial to target cancer’s elusive growth switch

Ochsner Health launches Genetic Wellness Assessment to identify cancer risks early

Researchers find potential link between chronic pain, immune condition

A study by UPF reveals discrimination on grounds of ethnic background in Spain’s leading online second-hand marketplace, especially when buying

Research examines the good, bad and ugly of true crime media

Research shows National Living Wage has reduced labor mobility across firms, but at what cost?

New technique detects genetic mutations in brain tumors during surgery within just 25 minutes

UMass Amherst researchers create nanoparticle vaccine that prevents cancer in mice

Animal behavior: Dogs pawsitively hooked on toys

The ISSCR launches roadmap for developing pluripotent stem cell-derived cellular therapies

Parasite paparazzi take millions of photos of secret malaria proteins

Lung cancer incidence after September 11, 2001, among World Trade Center responders

City of Hope Research Spotlight, September 2025

Streamlining the consciousness debate, from trees to hermit crabs

[Press-News.org] Study: Negative classroom environment adversely affects children's mental health
Negatives include inadequate resources, teachers who feel colleagues don't respect them