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WP202134-School-selectivity-peers-and-mental-health.pdf
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Although many students suffer from anxiety and depression, and often identify school pressure and concerns about their futures as the main reasons for their worries, little is known about the consequences of a selective school environment on students’ mental health. Using a regression discontinuity analysis in the largest Norwegian cities, we show that eligibility to enroll in a more selective high school increases the probability of enrollment in higher education and decreases the probability of diagnosis or treatment of psychological problems. We provide suggestive evidence that changes in both teacher and peers’ characteristics are likely drivers of these effects.
Authors
Research Associate University of Bergen
Rita is an IFS Research Associate, an Associate Professor at the University of Bergen and a Research Associate at the Uppsala University.
Katrine Loken
Aline Bütikofer
Fanny Landaud
Working Paper details
- DOI
- 10.1920/wp.ifs.2021.3421
- Publisher
- Institute for Fiscal Studies
Suggested citation
Bütikofer, A et al. (2021). School selectivity, peers, and mental health. London: Institute for Fiscal Studies. Available at: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/school-selectivity-peers-and-mental-health (accessed: 17 May 2024).
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