School climate and psychological symptoms--correlations between school stress, sense of coherence and physical-psychological impairment in high school students

Abstract

The research project "Health Promotion and School Culture" investigated associations between school climate, school stress, sense of coherence and physical/psychological symptoms in high school students. 565 students, aged 15 to 20 from two high schools (Gymnasium) in the canton of Zurich took part in the study. Assessment measures included questionnaires on school climate (FUK 7-10), school stress, sense of coherence (SOC-13), physical (GBB-24) and psychological symptomatology (SCL-90-R, ADS-K). 166 of the students also participated in a standardised psychiatric interview (DIA-X). Results revealed significant associations between 1. school climate and school stress, 2. biographical risk and protective factors and sense of coherence, 3. school stress and sense of coherence, and 4. school-stress and sense of coherence on the one side and symptomatology on the other. The results are discussed in terms of Karasek and Theorell's (1990) three dimensional stress model. Finally, the need for health promotion in school, especially in classes of high school, is addressed.