School disorder, victimization, and general v. place-specific student avoidance

This study utilizes a national sample of 3, 776 high-school students to test two theoretical models of school avoidance behavior. More specifically, this study examines the relationships between student avoidance and both school disorder (or, incivilities) and previous victimization experiences. Further, the study also examines whether the presumed effects of incivilities and victimization on avoidance operate indirectly, through student fear. Negative Binomial regression analyses showed that perceived disorder in the form of presence of gangs and previous bullying victimization are key sources of student fear. In turn, student fear is positively correlated with two distinct types of avoidance behavior. Interestingly, controlling for student fear does not dissolve the significant, positive effects of perceived gang presence and bullying victimization.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS▶ Using negative binomial regression models, exploratory factor analysis, and expectation maximization techniques for missing data this study attempts to evaluate sources of student avoidance at school. ▶ Two theoretical paradigms are addressed in the analysis of two different types of avoidance. ▶ Results suggest that different factors are important in understanding each type of avoidance behavior, and that neither existing theoretical approach is dominant.