Mental Well-Being Status as Predictor of Grade Retention and Dropout Risk in Salvadoran Youth (Poster 25)

• In Event: Thursday Poster Session 9:00 am
  In Poster Session: Social and Emotional Learning

Abstract

Dropout and grade retention rates in children and adolescents may be connected to and preceded by mental health difficulties. Since 2020, the Ministry of Education in El Salvador has analyzed the socioemotional state of students in grades 4 through 12. Using this study's 2022 database, 394,536 students' responses were matched with their dropout and grade retention status in 2023. Those responses reported depression and anxiety symptomatology and self-regulation, self-esteem, and school well-being levels. Results show that adverse depression and anxiety symptoms increase the risk of grade retention, while positive self-regulation, self-esteem, and school well-being status decrease it. On the other hand, dropout risk is increased by negative depression and anxiety symptomatology, but the other variables show no effects.

Author

• Fernando J. Mena, University of Massachusetts - Amherst