A Scoping Review of School Connectedness Interventions for Adolescents.

Abstract

Background: Given the importance of school connectedness for healthy adolescent development, this scoping review aimed to identify and describe intervention strategies used to increase school connectedness among adolescents.

Methods: Guided by the Arksey and O'Malley framework, we conducted a scoping review of school-based intervention studies published between 2011 and 2023 targeting school connectedness among adolescents. Intervention strategies were organized using a social-ecological framework.

Findings: There were 24 included studies across 12 countries, targeting students aged 10-20 years. Various theories, study designs, and measurement tools were used. Interventions were primarily classroom-based, with common strategies including lessons, skill-building, and role plays. Most targeted the individual or interpersonal level rather than the organizational level. Despite it generally being a secondary outcome, 11 of the 23 interventions had a positive effect on school connectedness.

Implications for school health policy, practice, and equity: There are promising strategies across multiple social-ecological levels that can be used to increase school connectedness among adolescents.

Conclusions: A diversity of promising intervention strategies have been implemented to increase school connectedness. Future studies need to further define school connectedness, explore strategies at the organizational level, and measure the effectiveness of different strategies.