Barriers, Enablers, and Possible Solutions for Student Wellness: A Qualitative Analysis of Student, Administrators, and Staff Perspectives

Abstract

BACKGROUND Child well‐being, which includes physical, mental, and social health, has a critical effect on academic performance. Schools face many challenges in meeting needs for child well‐being. Schools in low‐resource areas, including the Mississippi Delta, face greater challenges when meeting student needs. METHODS Eleven focus groups with middle school students and 12 interviews with teachers, staff, and administration in one Mississippi Delta middle school were completed in 2019. The Social Ecological Model and Theory of Organizational Readiness for Change were used as a framework for the study. RESULTS Focus group data with middle school students and interviews with teachers, staff, and administrators show that academic stressors play a major role in student well‐being; yet, teachers, staff, and administrators face immense pressure to achieve high test scores. However, students seem to be encouraged by a positive school environment, which could help minimize some stressors. CONCLUSIONS It seems that small improvements to the school environment could have a significant effect on student well‐being, especially when school infrastructure and limited resources do not support comprehensive changes.

Exploring Wellness Through Concept Analysis

“…( 5) Seeks meaning (McMahon & Fleury, 2012;Watson, 2018). ( 6) Has a support system in place (e.g., interpersonal level-family, peers; institutional level-schools, teachers, community events) (Mann et al, 2021;Salman et al, 2021;Watson, 2018).…”

“… Seeks meaning (McMahon & Fleury, 2012; Watson, 2018). Has a support system in place (e.g., interpersonal level—family, peers; institutional level—schools, teachers, community events) (Mann et al, 2021; Salman et al, 2021; Watson, 2018). Walker and Avant (2019) define consequences as the “result or the outcomes” of the concept (pp.…”

Impact of Student Wellness on Academic Performance with Mediating Role of Learning Environment

“…To supervise and understand feelings is critical to gain achievement in different relational and vocation-related fields. By convention, educational institutions have focused solely on normal and phonetic insight, without paying considerable regard to other types of knowledge (Mann et al, 2021). Academic performance has emerged as one of the most important determinants of early school dropout (Araque, 2014).…”