Examining Gendered Differences in the Long-Term Adverse Effects of School Disciplinary Practices

• In Event: Effects of Childhood Adversity over the Life Course

Abstract

Exclusionary disciplinary practices, such as suspensions and expulsions, have long been a cornerstone of managing antisocial student behaviors within American schools. Despite their widespread use, these practices have limited effectiveness and a high potential to contribute to adverse life outcomes, including criminal justice involvement and victimization in adulthood. Drawing on labeling theory and life-course perspectives, this study explores the long-term effects of exclusionary school disciplinary practices across genders. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) dataset, we analyze the trajectories of students subjected to harsh disciplinary practices, emphasizing traditional criminological outcomes. Preliminary findings suggest that beyond disrupting education, exclusionary practice stigmatizes students, weakens institutional bonds, and fosters engagement with antisocial peers, all of which contribute to adverse life outcomes in adulthood. By employing logistic regression modeling techniques, this study provides new insights into the cumulative disadvantages imposed by exclusionary practices, advancing the discourse on school discipline and its broader societal implications.

Author

• Lindsay Jessica Lerner, John Jay College of Criminal Justice / CUNY Graduate Center