| This study examines school bonding and the factors that affect it among Latino/Hispanic youth aged 11-17. School bonding refers to the sense of meaningful connection, belonging, and affiliation to the school institution and the people associated with it. School bonding is important because it has been linked to various developmental and adjustment outcomes, both positive and negative. When school bonding factors are negative, student outcomes that may occur include poor academic achievement (Conchas, 2001), school dropout (Sinclair et al., 1998), delinquent behaviors (McPartland & McDill, 1977), and substance use (Hawkins & Weis, 1985).; The study examined school bonding and its correlation with 12 variables using univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis with a population of (N=4,495) youth Latino/Hispanic volunteer participants. The data used comes from youth enrolled at 30 out of 34 sites involved in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) National Minority Substance Abuse Prevention and HIV Prevention Initiative (2002-2005). The geographical representation was made of fifteen states which were: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, George, Hawaii, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Washington, D.C.; Results showed the variables of school performance, peer delinquent, length of residency in U.S., self-efficacy, antisocial behaviors, and language Spanish to be statistically significant with school bonding. The other variables that were looked at, which were not statistically significant, were age, gender, living with father, level of education, and country of affiliation.; This research suggests that youth with good coping skills, resources, resiliency, and self-efficacy are less vulnerable to self-destructive barriers despite having multiple risk factors in their social environment.; These influential factors provide insight into the risk that Latino/Hispanic youth may experience. Understanding these risk factors can help school administrators and personnel to develop and implement prevention programs to help all Latino/Hispanic youth.; School bonding theories carry promise for students bonding to schools, but also for prevention and intervention programs. School bonding can be increased by efforts by school administrators, teachers, psychologist, counselors, parents, and communities. |
