6533b873fe1ef96bd12d44a7

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Indoor air problems and the perceived social climate in schools: A multilevel structural equation analysis

Seppo LaaksonenPauliina LuopaEerika FinellReijo SundJuha PekkanenTimo StåhlSakari KarvonenAsko TolvanenUlla Haverinen-shaughnessy

subject

Maleteacher-student relationshipClimateApplied psychologyindoor airsocial relations010501 environmental sciences01 natural sciencesalakoulusocial climateIndoor air qualitySurveys and QuestionnairesMuut yhteiskuntatieteet - Other social sciencesComputingMilieux_COMPUTERSANDEDUCATIONWaste Management and Disposalta515FinlandSchools4. Education05 social sciencesMultilevel modelpsyykkiset vaikutukset050301 educationta3142ilmapiiriair qualityPollution3142 Public health care science environmental and occupational healthsosiaaliset suhteetindoor air problemsilmanlaatukoulurakennuksetAir Pollution Indoorclass spiritFemalemultilevel analysisPsychologysosiaaliset vaikutuksetindoor air qualityEnvironmental EngineeringAdolescentKansanterveystiede ympäristö ja työterveys - Public health care science environmental and occupational healthIndoor airmonitasomallinnusschooleducationSample (statistics)psykososiaaliset tekijätAffect (psychology)Structural equation modelingsisäilmaongelmatHumansLearningEnvironmental Chemistrylower secondary schoolStudentsopettaja-oppilassuhde0105 earth and related environmental sciencessisäilmapsychosocial effectPublic OpinionkouluPerception0503 education

description

Indoor air problems in schools appear to influence learning outcomes and absence rates. However, previous research has not investigated whether indoor air problems influence the social climate of schools. Therefore, we studied whether indoor air problems observed in schools associate with students' perceptions of the teacher-student relationship and class spirit. The nationwide sample of Finnish schools (N = 194 schools/27153 students) was analyzed using multilevel structural equation modeling. Data on the schools' social climate collected from students were merged with independently collected data on observed indoor air problems from school principals. We found that the teacher-student relationship was reported to be worse in schools with observed indoor air problems compared to those without observed indoor air problems. Furthermore, the reported class spirit was worse in schools with observed indoor air problems, but only among students with a high grade point average. Our findings indicate that indoor air problems may affect the student-perceived social climate. peerReviewed

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2018-01-01Science of The Total Environment
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.126