Adolescent Health Behaviors in Schools with 4‐ Versus 5‐Day School Weeks

Abstract

BACKGROUND The adoption of a shortened school week from the traditional 5 to 4 days is increasing nationwide. Budgetary and staffing needs are driving the change, yet research on the effects on students is lacking, especially regarding student health. Our study examined student health in 4 vs 5‐day schools in Colorado, a state with one of the highest numbers of schools with a 4‐day week. METHODS Data are from a population‐based survey of high‐school students. Student responses were weighted to school enrollment, and schools were classified by length of the school week. Indicators of health behaviors and outcomes were compared between the two groups, adjusted for student and school characteristics. RESULTS A 4‐day school week was associated with several positive health outcomes (improved student engagement, decreased substance use behaviors, decreased non‐school screen time, and increased physical activity) as well as several negative health outcomes (increased bullying, increased sexual activity, decreased sleep, and breakfast consumption). CONCLUSIONS Our study found mixed health outcomes associated with attending schools with shortened weeks. The findings may be related to longer school days and a non‐contact day, but further research is needed.

Impact of Reduced School Exposure on Adolescent Health Behaviors and Food Security: Evidence From 4‐Day School Weeks

“…In our study, we used 2 models: one not accounting for school fixed effects that considered all 4‐ versus 5‐day respondents and one that accounted for school fixed effects to look at the impacts of switching to a FDSW, made possible by the inclusion of multiple survey years. When using similar methods to Israel et al by not accounting for school fixed effects, 14 our results are quite comparable to those found in Colorado. These include students in 4‐day schools reporting they are less likely to use marijuana (p = .048); less likely to drive impaired by alcohol (trend, p = .071); have fewer hours of daily non‐school screen time (p = .002); and have more days of physical activity (trend, p = .075).…”

“…The primary drivers for adoption of FDSWs nationally are cost‐savings; attendance issues related to transportation, athletic events, and/or medical appointments; and other rural‐specific issues, such as teacher retention and family farming/ranching commitments. Given the findings of the current study, we echo the recommendation of Israel et al 14 that student health also should be considered when either making the decision to switch to a FDSW or in choosing how to structure the school schedule once a FDSW is adopted. It is likely that differences in adoption, structure, and implementation of FDSWs across states will result in differential impacts of FDSWs on adolescent health and health behaviors.…”

“…Our findings of both positive and negative effects associated with FDSW use contributes to an emerging body of evidence about the health impacts of reduced school exposure via FDSWs. Only recently have any health effects of this school schedule been described, with a study comparing adolescents in 4‐ and 5‐day Colorado schools also finding both positive and negative impacts associated with FDSWs 14 . The study described here has a very similar premise to the Colorado study but analyzes these FDSW impacts in a different state policy setting, allowing for comparison of our results to those found for Colorado.…”

“…We conducted this analysis in 2 ways. First, we ran the regression model without school fixed effects, which is similar to the methodological approach taken by Israel et al 14 This across‐school analysis gives the mean differences across the 4‐ and 5‐day school week schedules when controlling for student, time, and regional variation in these health behaviors. As students are nested in schools, however, the preferred estimates come from estimating Equation () with school fixed effects included.…”

“…The lack of structure and supervision on the non‐school weekday may affect other behaviors in adolescents, such as substance use, sexual behavior, and crime. A recent study 14 showed both positive (decreased substance use and screen time, increased physical activity) and negative (increased sexual activity, decreased sleep and breakfast consumption) associations with FDSW exposure among teens in Colorado, while a separate Colorado‐based study showed increases in juvenile crime associated with FDSW use 15 . At a time of economic distress when education allocations may be threatened, it is critical to gain more insights into the effects of FDSWs on students' health and wellbeing to inform decision makers.…”