The test of time: A meta-analytic review of the relation between school climate and problem behavior

Abstract

Abstract School climate is conceptualized as a pattern of experiences within the school, which reflect the culture and norms of the school community. School climate is correlated with student outcomes. This review focuses on longitudinal literature investigating the relation between school climate and problem behavior to determine if the two are correlated over time. Six electronic databases were searched using keywords, and two recent reviews were hand-searched for references. Thirteen articles were included in this meta-analysis. Effect sizes were calculated using correlational data provided from individual studies and weighted by sample size. Results supported a small but significant relation between school climate and problem behavior over time. Research continues to support the importance of school environment as we seek to reduce problem behaviors and improve student experiences in school. This study illustrates the longitudinal impact of school environmental factors, and describes implications for theory, research, and practice.