School Psychology Research Articles

William M. Reynolds (1951-2024).

Memorializes William M. Reynolds (1951-2024). "Bill" served as director of the graduate program in school psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and held appointments as principal investigator at the Waisman Center on Mental Retardation and Human Development and as discipline chief of Psychology of the University Affiliated Program at the Waisman Center. He developed the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale and the Reynolds Childhood Depression Scale, which are widely used both clinically and in research. Bill held a professorship at the University of British Columbia (1991-2000), serving as director of the School Psychology graduate program. In 2000, Dr. Reynolds returned to California as professor of Psychology at Cal Poly Humboldt. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Brief Introduction to the Second Special Issue–School Psychology and Indigenous Peoples: Critical Perspectives and Indigenous-Led Approaches

This issue of the Canadian Journal of School Psychology is the second of two parts of a special issue devoted to the intersection of school psychology and Indigenous Peoples within the Canadian context. It includes an additional five articles that relate to ethical practice, relationship building, and decolonized intervention, as well as an overview of the current state of Indigenous representation in school psychology research. It concludes with a commentary on the special issue. The two issues on the topic of critical perspectives and Indigenous-led approaches contribute to a starting point for dialogue and calls to action within school psychology.

In Case You Haven't Heard…

A new study has found that engaging in creative activities can significantly boost well‐being by providing meaningful spaces for expression and achievement, CNN reported on Sept. 15. “Options such as knitting and drawing require very few tools and can be engaging and creatively fulfilling activities,” said Dr. Helen Keyes, cognitive psychologist and head of the School of Psychology and Sport Science at Anglia Ruskin University, and study author, via email. Although prior studies have shown that creating arts and crafting is therapeutic for people with mental health conditions, the general population has been understudied, according to the study, which was published in Frontiers in Public Health. The researchers analyzed a sample of 7,182 participants living in England (age 16 and older) from the annual Taking Part survey conducted by the U.K.'s Department for Culture, Media, and Sport, which explores how the public engages with these activities. Participants' reported happiness, life satisfaction and sense of their lives being worthwhile were positively correlated to participating in arts and crafts, but arts and crafts were not associated with decreased anxiety or loneliness, which requires further investigation.

A call to disrupt hetero- and cisnormativity (HetCisNorms) in school psychology with guidance from the adapting strategies to promote implementation reach and equity (ASPIRE) framework.

A call to disrupt hetero- and cisnormativity (HetCisNorms) in school psychology with guidance from the adapting strategies to promote implementation reach and equity (ASPIRE) framework.

Tootling: current research and future considerations for school practitioners

Tootling is an interdependent group contingency designed as an intervention to be implemented in classrooms in order to meet students’ vast behavioral and academic needs by increasing academically engaged behavior, decreasing disruptive behavior, and subsequently leading to increases in student academic achievement. Tootling supports a positive classroom climate by providing teachers with an opportunity to use classroom management strategies to address inappropriate student behavior. This article reviewed the available literature on tootling studies in order to determine gaps for future research. Next steps for school psychologists involving tootling research is discussed including future lines of tootling research and the importance of tootling for school-based practitioners. More research is necessitated to understand more about tootling and its implications for school psychologists.

Training school psychologists to conduct culturally informed Functional Behavior Assessment interviews.

Exclusionary discipline is a racialized mechanism through which schools systematically remove racially and ethnically minoritized youth from the learning environment. Although the development of Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and linked behavior support plans have been identified as an alternative practice, school psychologists often do not ask questions about the cultural and contextual factors that may influence students' behavior during FBA interviews. Therefore, training is warranted. Unfortunately, staff often have limited time and resources to devote to professional development; therefore, it is critical to ensure that training procedures that require more time offer better outcomes than those that require fewer resources. The present study compared the effectiveness of high intensity training (e.g., behavioral skills training) versus a low intensity training procedure (e.g., self-training) procedures on school psychologists' ability to facilitate simulated FBA interviews grounded in cultural humility with caregivers before and after exposure to one of two training conditions. Findings from regression analyses indicated that self-training adequately prepared school psychologists to adhere to the questions on the protocol, however, behavioral skills training improved the quality of interview delivery. Implications for future research and training are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Understanding depression and anxiety rates of school psychology graduate students.

School psychology graduate students experience many risk factors for problems with mental health, including high workloads, financial distress, and challenging relationships with faculty that can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and depression. Although there have been studies that have investigated depression and anxiety amongst graduate students in general (Eisenberg et al., 2007) and health service psychology students in particular (Hobaica et al., 2021), there are reasons to believe that school psychology graduate students may have different experiences. To date, no research has been found investigating the depression and anxiety symptoms of graduate students in school psychology programs. A survey was sent to 194 school psychology training programs, and 291 graduate students completed it. Approximately one in four graduate students reported moderate to severe levels of depressive symptoms, while one in three reported moderate to severe levels of anxiety symptoms. These symptoms were significantly higher in graduate students identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and more identities, women, or reported being from a lower socioeconomic background. There were no differences in depression or anxiety symptoms between the type of program (i.e., doctoral or specialist) or years in program. Implications for trainers of school psychology are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Supplemental Material for A Call to Disrupt Hetero- and Cisnormativity (HetCisNorms) in School Psychology With Guidance From the Adapting Strategies to Promote Implementation Reach and Equity (ASPIRE) Framework

Supplemental Material for A Call to Disrupt Hetero- and Cisnormativity (HetCisNorms) in School Psychology With Guidance From the Adapting Strategies to Promote Implementation Reach and Equity (ASPIRE) Framework

Providing LGBTQIA+ affirming mental health services in schools: A cultural adaptation of dialectical behavior therapy Skills Training for Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents (DBT STEPS-A).

Despite growing concerns related to the youth mental health crisis and the well-being of sexual and gender minority youth, specifically, most mental health interventions fail to meet the unique needs of this population. Research and clinical guidance have recommended that approaching mental health treatments through a lens of minority stress and intersectionality can be particularly helpful in addressing the mental health concerns of LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, intersex, and asexual, with the '+' capturing other identities within the gender and sexually diverse population) youth. Because many adolescents do not have access to mental health care, schools have an important role to play in meeting the mental health needs of LGBTQIA+ youth. To address these issues, we propose LGBTQIA+ affirming adaptations to the dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) Skills Training for Emotional Problem Solving for Adolescents (STEPS-A) curriculum using Pachankis et al.'s (2023) Adaptation Model to provide practitioners with a culturally affirming model of this social-emotional curriculum, while highlighting the utility of this framework in adapting other evidence-based interventions in schools. We walk readers through each module of DBT STEPS-A and provide rationale for adapting these skills for LGBTQIA+ youth. We offer specific adaptations that facilitators can make through psychoeducation and skills training. For example, we provide sample dialectics that mirror the experience of minority stress and propose examples of coping skills that are relevant for LGBTQIA+ youth (e.g., distracting and self-soothing to tolerate distress). Finally, the role of school psychologists in meeting the mental health needs of LGBTQIA+ youth is discussed along with implications for practice and future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Understanding anxiety‐related problems of children with ASD in school settings

AbstractThe primary purpose of this current study was to identify knowledge of special education and mental health professionals in anxiety‐related problems of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in four Different Categories: Separation Anxiety (SA), Uncertainty (U), Performance Anxiety (PA), and anxiety Arousal (AA). Three hundred eighteen participants across the United States (199 special education teachers, 97 school counselors, and 22 school psychologists) participated. The finding indicated that special education teachers and school counselors have significantly less training and expertise to identify anxiety symptoms in typically developing children and children with ASD than school psychologists (p < .05). Moreover, school counselors have significantly limited knowledge in identifying and treating anxiety issues in children with ASD (p < .05). Findings showed that school counselors could not determine precisely whether symptoms of uncertainty events existed because of anxiety issues or ASD characteristics. School psychologists and special education teachers identified the uncertainty of children with ASD as characteristics of children with ASD, not anxiety symptoms. Implications were discussed.

Soft Expulsion: What Happens When School-Based Supports aren’t Enough

AbstractVery limited research exists regarding the beliefs and practices of student support teams (SSTs), sometimes called child study teams or IEP teams, in settings with non-expulsion policies for young children with severely challenging behaviors. Previous research examined teacher and administrator beliefs and practices and found that they engage in practices related to soft expulsion (Murphy et al. in Child Youth Serv Rev 158:107441, 2024). Some school psychologists and SST members may also resort to soft expulsion, subtly pushing children out of their schools due to challenging behaviors (Zinsser et al. in Rev Educ Res 92(5):743–785, 2022). This study utilized an anonymous, online, self-report measure to investigate the practices and beliefs of SST members in early childhood education settings with non-expulsion policies. Participants included 108 school-based service providers in one state. The majority identified as school psychologists, held a Master’s degree, had between 1 and 5 years of experience, and worked 36–40 h per week. Results showed that most participants said they had the supports to meet the needs of children with severely challenging behaviors, yet most had worked with a child whose behaviors they were unable to manage. Our examination also uncovered indications of soft expulsion practices and a general lack of knowledge about existing non-expulsion policies. The implications arising from these beliefs and practices are examined and discussed.

Enhancing school safety through psychological support: Key findings and strategies

A crucial aspect of creating a safe and supportive learning environment is the integration of psychological support to reduce school violence. Research highlights that school violence impacts not only students' physical safety but also their mental health and emotional development. Effective psychological support can play a pivotal role in preventing and mitigating violent behaviors by addressing underlying emotional difficulties and unresolved trauma. Key strategies include implementing early interventions through school psychologists and counselors, who offer individual and group counseling to help students manage conflicts and intense emotions constructively. Additionally, psychological support programs can improve the school climate through workshops on emotional intelligence, stress management, and social skills, fostering empathy and reducing conflicts. Integrating psychological services with other school resources, such as emotional education programs and violence prevention strategies, is essential. Collaboration among school psychologists, teachers, parents, and administrators ensures a holistic approach to violence prevention, considering all aspects of students' school lives. The research demonstrates that peer social support significantly mediates the relationship between school victimization and psychological health. Social support acts as a buffer, mitigating the negative effects of violence, and is crucial for students of all genders and ethnicities. Furthermore, family support is identified as a vital moderator, enhancing adolescent mental health despite exposure to violence. Psychological intervention strategies, such as establishing psychological warning systems and prevention mechanisms, are essential in proactively addressing violence. Schools should focus on creating a protective environment and integrating psychological strategies into broader prevention efforts. Continuous mental health education and a safe space for students to express concerns can significantly reduce violent behaviors and support a positive educational atmosphere.

Sarah and the Fear of Growing Up – A Case Study in School Psychology, Examined From a Psychoanalytic Perspective

Sarah and the Fear of Growing Up – A Case Study in School Psychology, Examined From a Psychoanalytic Perspective

Impact of Emotional Anxiety on Academic Performance of Senior Secondary School Students in Kebbi State, Nigeria

This study investigated the impact of emotional anxiety on academic performance among students of senior secondary schools in Kebbi State, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlative research design. The target population of the study was 2,344 male and female senior secondary school students in Kebbi State, Nigeria. The sample of the study was 338 respondents drawn from the target population. Data were collected using Emotional Anxiety Inventory (EAI) and academic performance inventory (API). The data collected were processed and analyzed PPMC. All tests were performed at a 0.05 significance level. The study found that there is a significant relationship between emotional anxiety, and academic performance among senior secondary students in Kebbi state with the following values: emotional anxiety and academic performance = 0.000, r = .697. Based on the results of the findings it was recommended that government should employ the services of psychologist and counselors in the senior secondary schools so as to help students on how to cope with their emotional anxiety.

Introduction to Special Issue: How Research Reform in Psychology Can Influence Professional School Psychology

This special issue features essays by prominent scholars in school psychology discussing how shifts in research can reshape the future training and practice of the field. A profession that evolves and adapts indicates a robust and dynamic discipline. However, staying current with these changes poses a significant challenge. Given the pivotal role of evidence-based practices in school psychology, the type and quality of research directly influence how psychological services are delivered and practiced. Reforming research practices in psychology can serve as a catalyst for enhancing our field. This issue presents a variety of viewpoints on how research and clinical practice intersect in a rapidly changing landscape.

Wellness as an Ethical Mandate: Examining the Mental Health, Stress, and Self-Care Practices of School Psychology Graduate Students

Previous literature has found that psychology graduate students experience clinically significant rates of mental health problems. Self-care practices at the individual and program level may help to mitigate these outcomes and benefit student wellbeing. However, minimal research exists about the mental health and self-care practices of school psychology graduate students. The current study examined prevalence rates of anxiety, depression, and stress in a sample of school psychology students (N = 202) as well as self-care utilization and perceptions of programmatic self-care emphasis. Results indicated that most participants reported clinically significant rates of stress, depression, and/or anxiety. In contrast to prior findings, participants who identified with minoritized identities did not report significantly different rates of mental health outcomes. Correlational analyses revealed significant negative relationships between participants’ self-care utilization and mental health outcomes, and between perceived programmatic emphasis on self-care and participants’ mental health outcomes. Coding of open-ended survey responses identified barriers to and facilitators of participants’ self-care and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants’ mental health. Findings highlight that school psychology students face significant threats to their mental health throughout training and indicate that encouraging self-care practices may support student wellbeing. Implications for training and future research are discussed. Impact Statement This study found that most of the school psychology graduate student sample reported clinically significant levels of stress, depression, and anxiety and that rates did not differ significantly across student subgroups. Additionally, results indicated individual use of self-care strategies as well as a broader emphasis on implementation of self-care across programs were positively related to students’ wellbeing. Barriers and facilitators of self-care services, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, were also explored. The results of this study contribute to our knowledge of school psychology graduate trainees’ experiences of stress and mental health challenges during their training, as well as offer practical steps for graduate programs to implement wellbeing supports desired by their students.

Initial Validation of the New Jersey School Climate Improvement Survey

School climate has a profound impact on the wellbeing of staff and students. Although existing measures are available to assess dimensions of school life (Bradshaw et al., 2021; Espelage et al., 2014), surveys that comprehensively assess components of school climate from multiple perspectives are needed. A rationale is presented for developing the New Jersey School Climate Improvement Survey for students, staff, and parents/caregivers, which varies from existing instruments in its measurement of unique domains; alignment of items across informant types; integration of diver­sity, equity, and inclusion items across domains; and ability to disaggregate by demographic characteristics, including student gender expansive categories. Internal consistency and structural validity were investigated using data from 5,504 students in grades 3-5, 16,280 students in grades 6-12, 5,464 staff, and 5,874 parents/caregivers. For each survey version, results support a correlated model structure and demonstrate strong internal reliability (e.g., omega coefficients above 0.70). Confirmatory factor analyses and Pearson correlations demonstrate strong internal structural validity across surveys. Implications are discussed, including how the instrument can inform a school climate improvement process that involves identifying strengths and needs, assessing the impact of interventions, and monitoring progress toward goals over time. Impact Statement This article advances an understanding of the reliability and validity of a new multi-informant school climate assessment known as the New Jersey School Climate Improvement (NJ SCI) Survey. The survey can be used by school support staff including school psychologists, to collect data used to inform school climate improvement to create supportive and equitable learning conditions in schools.

Сотрудничество психологов, педагогов и родителей в сопровождении школьников при подготовке к выпускным экзаменам

<p style="text-align: justify;">One of the functions of the psychological service at school is psychological support of graduates in preparation for examination. The results of the survey of students showed that one of the reasons for anxiety and even fear is the topic of the period of preparation for examination and the examination process itself. Together with subject teachers, programs were created, the essence of which is to take into account the psychological aspects of time planning and self-regulation, as well as the content of the preparation plans and stages of work with examination tasks for each of the academic disciplines to be passed by graduates. Another no less “problematic” topic for graduates is the nature of the attitude of significant adults to the way graduates prepare for examination. Within the framework of psychological and pedagogical support of schoolchildren in preparation for the external examination, meetings of psychologist with parents of graduates were held, which were also conducted with the use of interactive methods. Such cooperation of subject teachers, school psychologist and parents has received positive feedback from students of final grades after testing the proposed recommendations on trial tests.</p>

Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in School Psychology Science and Scholarship: Changing Training and Practice in the Field of School Psychology

The intentional and sustained actions to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in school psychology science and scholarship, will have reciprocal and dynamic influences on graduate preparation and practice. Herein, the School Psychology Review leadership team provides reflections on several of our intentional efforts, to date, to advocate for and advance DEI in school psychology scholarship, and the associated implications for graduate preparation and practice. Contemporary actions of the School Psychology Review leadership team have included; (a) establishing commitments to advocating for and advancing DEI as the foundation of our scholarship; (b) diversifying journal leadership and editorial board members to reflect the diverse student body school psychologists serve; (c) preparing future diverse journal leadership through mentored editorial fellowship programs, and a student editorial board with members from diverse backgrounds; (d) featuring special topics relevant to further understanding and supporting diverse and minoritized children, youth, families, and school communities; (e) providing professional-development opportunities and resources; (f) implementation of Open Science opportunities in the journal, (g) implementing triple anonymous peer review to reduce bias, and (h) implementing a journal action plan focused on advancing DEI. Collectively these efforts are aimed to influence positive change in advancing and sustaining DEI efforts in school psychology science, scholarship, graduate preparation and practice.

Policy, Practice, and Perceptions of K-12 Social-Emotional Learning

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of K-12 school staff who participate in social-emotional learning (SEL). Since the global pandemic, several school districts have included SEL as part of the school curriculum. Teachers, counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and school administrators participate in SEL instruction and/or practices. Classroom teachers instruct students in SEL instruction and other school staff practice the SEL components of self-awareness, self-management, decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills through their daily interactions with students. This study was conducted in various schools throughout the Los Angeles area using open-ended interview questions that utilized focus groups and individual interviews according to their school positions. The schools were invited to participate in purposeful sampling. The participants were invited and selected to include the diversity of student population, size, location, and SEL programs. Interview questions examined the participants’ perceptions of the SEL program, practices, and school policy. Data collection involved note-taking and/or voice recordings.