A Participatory Study of School Dropout and Behavioral Health of Latino Adolescents

Abstract

The dropout of Latino adolescents from public schools has been linked to behavioral health issues such as delinquency and family conflict. Greater understanding is needed about the interplay of cultural, social, and developmental factors in this process. This article reports the findings of 14 group interviews conducted using a participatory approach with Latinos in a large school district in the southeastern USA. Findings support the need for comprehensive school-based interventions along the continuum from early intervention to intensive treatment for Latino adolescents who are at risk of dropping out. Participatory research is recommended for identifying strategies that integrate culturally and developmentally appropriate adaptations into existing behavioral health and dropout prevention services.

Academic Aspirations as a Moderator of the Link Between Negative Life Events and Delinquency in a Sample of Latino Youth

“…In a study of Black and Latino 8 th and 9 th grade students, those who showed warning signs of dropping out of high school (i.e., poor performance on standardized tests, school suspensions, grade retention, failing a core subject, or poor school attendance) were more likely to show signs of delinquency and problem substance use during adolescence (Henry, Knight, & Thornberry, 2011). Further, Latino youth who were interviewed about personal or peer experiences of dropping out of high school commonly cited delinquency as a negative consequence as a result of dropping out (Nesman, 2007). There was also a relation between low academic aspirations and high levels of delinquency for both Latino and non-Latino students in the study (Nesman, 2007).…”

“…Further, Latino youth who were interviewed about personal or peer experiences of dropping out of high school commonly cited delinquency as a negative consequence as a result of dropping out (Nesman, 2007). There was also a relation between low academic aspirations and high levels of delinquency for both Latino and non-Latino students in the study (Nesman, 2007).…”

Children's participation in health research: from objects to agents?

“…Some of these advantages can be recognized in work that opens up health‐related research processes to particularly vulnerable groups of children, such as those from ethnically and socio‐economically diverse populations (Nesman 2007; Claudio & Stingone 2008). Two case studies discussed by Coad and Evans (2008) illuminate ways in children may be involved at multiple points in the research process including data analysis and dissemination.…”

Navigating the occupational transition of dropping out of school: Anchoring occupations and champions as facilitators

“…quantitative study in the USA and Australia compared the in and out of school activities of youth and found that school dropouts' participation in occupations after dropping out reflected the opportunities available in their immediate contexts 31 . The pattern of engagement in risky occupations post dropping out was echoed in a number of studies [31][32][33][34] . The places where school dropouts spend their time after dropping out, such as the street corners in low socio-economic communities, induce them into risk occupations, such as drinking, drug abuse and participation in illegal activities 21 .…”