School selectivity, peers, and mental health

Arbeitspapier

Although many students suffer from anxiety and depression, and often identify school pressure and concerns about their futures as the main reasons for their worries, little is known about the consequences of a selective school environment on students' mental health. Using a regression discontinuity analysis in the largest Norwegian cities, we show that eligibility to enroll in a more selective high school increases the probability of enrollment in higher education and decreases the probability of diagnosis or treatment of psychological problems. We provide suggestive evidence that changes in both teacher and peers' characteristics are likely drivers of these effects.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IFS Working Paper ; No. W21/34

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Health Behavior ; Analysis of Education ; Education and Inequality
• Subject: Health ; school inputs ; selective education

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Bütikofer, Aline ; Ginja, Rita ; Landaud, Fanny ; Løken, Katrine V.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)
• (where): London
• (when): 2021

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.1920/wp.ifs.2021.3421
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/249689
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET