School Connectedness and Help-Seeking Attitudes in the Middle School Population: Gender Differences

Abstract

The rate of suicide among youth ages 10-14 nearly tripled between 2007 and 2017 and is now the second leading cause of death for this population. School connectedness, defined as the belief by students that school staff and peers care about them personally and academically, is a protective factor against suicidal ideation and behaviors among adolescents. School connectedness has been shown to increase the likelihood that an individual may seek help in times of need. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between gender related differences in school connectedness and help-seeking attitudes and why students may or may not seek help in times of need among ethnically-racially diverse middle school students from a rural, Title I middle school in Eastern North Carolina. Data from five focus groups were analyzed via line-by-line coding during first cycle coding and in Vivo coding during second cycle coding. Trinity configurations were developed during thematic analysis for a visual representation of themes. Themes evolved regarding gender differences in school connectedness and help-seeking between males and females. Similar to previous research, which has shown that there are differences in levels of school connectedness and help-seeking attitudes among male and female adolescents, this study also found gender-related differences. Factors that contribute to these differences, as well as barriers and facilitators to help-seeking among adolescents ages 10-14, were identified.