Weekly peer groups left school effort the same at first, a bit higher later

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   610 high-school students from four school districts in the midwestern US. About two in three got free or reduced-price school lunch; 322 joined the groups and 288 did not.

2. 02

   What they did

   Groups of 5 to 15 students left one health class a week for 12 sessions. Each session lasted 45 to 60 minutes, with two trained leaders. Students shared feelings and hard times, and at the end each one heard their strengths from the whole group. The other students stayed in their usual health class.

3. 03

   What happened

   Students rated their own effort, focus and grit at school about the same in both groups the week after the programme ended. Four months later, the group students rated it a bit higher. About a quarter of students were lost by four months, and early on more students left the other group.

What the study found

1. Mixed

   Weekly groups for opening up to classmates matched health class for school effort at first, then edged ahead months later.

   • Action: Open up to your peerstested
   • Rule: Practise with a groupused

   Randomised trial of 610 high-school students in the US Midwest · vs students who stayed in their usual health class · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out

Source