The Triggering Role of Stressful Life Events in Early School Leaving

This research summary was developed by Pathways to Education.

HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS RESEARCH SUMMARY:

Early school leaving is linked to various negative individual and social consequences. However, the immediate circumstances triggering this process are not well understood because research has focused on long-term and background risk factors.

The goal of this study was to examine if experiencing one or more severe stressors precipitates early school leaving over and above, or in interaction with, existing vulnerabilities.

Three groups of Canadian high school students were compared: recent non-completers, matched “at-risk” students who remained in school, and average students. The results show that in the few months before leaving school exposure to severely stressful events spiked among students who dropped out, but not among matched “at-risk” or average students.

The findings have theoretical, practical, and policy implications. They emphasize the need to address not only early, persistent vulnerabilities, but also the immediate stressful circumstances surrounding early school leaving.

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