The Influence of School Safety Perceptions on Psychosocial Factors and Belongingness

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: Current Research in Learning Environments

Abstract

Weapon violence (shootings, knives, etc.) in schools is an increasingly disturbing concern in America. The effects of thinking and/or worrying about weapon violence on learning environments and psychosocial factors such as social engagement are, however, not widely understood. In this study, we aimed to identify relationships among school safety with regards to weapons, belongingness, cognitive, and social engagement. Our results were mostly congruent with the literature (significance with small effect sizes), except for some surprising findings. One such finding was that we discovered that nearly one in three students have thought, feared, or worried about a school shooting happening at their school within seven days of taking the survey.

Authors

• Nathan Andrew Hawk, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Mitchell Shortt, The Ohio State University - Columbus

• Kui Xie, The Ohio State University