How does the school environment impact students' future health?

A new research project, led by Tina Olsson, Professor of Social Work at the School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, has received seven million SEK in funding from Forte. The project aims to investigate how the school environment influences students' health and life chances. Over a four-year period, researchers will follow young people and analyse the connections between school climate, academic performance, and future employment as well as health.

The research focuses on the social determinants of health (SDH) within schools, meaning various social and economic factors that affect students' well-being. These include the school atmosphere, relationships between students and teachers, the sense of safety, and how education prepares students for future employment opportunities and financial stability. Since students' academic achievements are directly linked to their future career and income prospects, these factors also influence their long-term health.

“We aim to explore the school as a health-promoting environment for children from different perspectives. The school environment has a significant impact on children's development and future opportunities, and we want to understand how schools can help protect children's development and reduce inequalities,” says Tina Olsson.

Mapping risks and protective factors

The study will include a representative sample of young people aged 12 to 23, gathering perspectives from both students and school staff. The goal is to investigate how schools can work with these social factors to improve students' performance. The researchers also aim to identify the risks and protective factors that affect school performance and health, as well as the resources that school staff and students perceive as either present or lacking to support the school’s health-promoting efforts.

A new intervention will also be developed and tested to improve the school environment and students’ health. The researchers will examine how this intervention is received by both teachers and students, focusing on aspects such as relationships, safety, and the influence of the school climate on academic results, future employment and income opportunities, and health.

“Based on this research and input from students and school staff, we will, according to the needs of various stakeholders, be able to develop and test an intervention aimed at positively influencing the school climate, which is crucial for short-term academic performance as well as long-term income, financial prospects, and health,” says Tina Olsson.

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