Abstract
From July 2009 to June 2018, the rates of multiple-victim, school-associated homicides in the United States fluctuated substantially, with evidence of a significant increase in recent years (1). Data on the effects of such incidents on students' school attendance and perceptions of safety and connectedness are limited (2,3) but important. This study used data from a neighboring within-district school before and after a multiple-fatality shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, 2018. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by one group of students on February 14 just before the shooting (575) and another group during February 15-21 (502); demographics for these groups appeared similar. Linear and logistic regression analyses controlling for demographic characteristics explored differences between groups for safety-related perceptions or experiences, school connectedness, and absenteeism. Compared with students surveyed before the shooting, students surveyed in the days immediately following the shooting had lower odds of feeling safe at school, higher odds of absenteeism, and higher school connectedness scores. Findings suggest the shooting had an immediate, sizeable effect on safety perceptions and absenteeism among students in a neighboring school. Findings also suggest higher school connectedness following the shooting. Further study of school connectedness, including how to enhance and sustain it, might help schools and communities better respond to traumatic events in the community.
Highlights
What are the implications for public health practice?
Findings suggest a need for trauma-informed supports for students attending schools near sites of school shootings
All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest
Summary
Student-Reported School Safety Perceptions, Connectedness, and Absenteeism Following a Multiple-Fatality School Shooting — Broward County, Florida, February 14–21, 2018. Linear and logistic regression analyses controlling for demographic characteristics explored differences between groups for safety-related perceptions or experiences, school connectedness, and absenteeism. The Institutional Review Board at ICF, the research and evaluation firm contracted to conduct the original evaluation, approved the project, following CDC ethics guidelines.§ This analysis focuses only on responses to questions about safety-related perceptions/experiences, school connectedness, and absenteeism from a larger questionnaire. Chi-squared tests revealed no significant demographic differences between students surveyed before and after the shooting, with a slight overrepresentation of Hispanic students (Table 1); there were significant differences for one of two safety-related variables, three of five school connectedness variables, and both absenteeism variables.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
