The Cascading Effects of Reducing Student Stress

Cooperative Learning as a Means to Reduce Emotional Problems and Promote Academic Engagement

Bibliographic Data

ID11670644
AuthorsMark J Van Ryzin (0000-0003-2034-1585, Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, USA, corresponding author), Cary J Roseth (0000-0003-4612-8248, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA)
Year2020
Volume41
Issue5
Pages700-724
Publication date2020-08-25
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Early Adolescence (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0272-4316 • E-ISSN: 1552-5449
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0272431620950474
PMID37621735
OpenAlexW3080481231
LanguageEN
Citations received16
References cited65

Adolescents, particularly early adolescents, are vulnerable to stress created by negative peer interactions. Stress, in turn, can lead to increased mental health problems and reduced academic engagement, in addition to negative long-term consequences for cognitive development and physical health. Using four waves (2 years) of data from a cluster randomized trial ( N = 15 middle schools, 1,890 students, 47.1% female, 75.2% White), we evaluated whether enhancements to peer relations, brought about through carefully structured small-group learning activities (i.e., cooperative learning ), could reduce stress and emotional problems and promote academic engagement. We hypothesized that the increased social contact created by cooperative learning would promote greater peer relatedness, reducing student stress and, in turn, reducing emotional problems and promoting academic engagement. Our results confirmed these hypotheses. We conclude that cooperative learning can provide social, behavioral, academic, and mental health benefits for students

Developmental psychology · Mathematics education · Mental health · Peer group · Psychotherapist · Stress (linguistics · Student engagement · Applied Psychology · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Early Childhood Education and Development · Psychology · Social Psychology

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