The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which examined the reasons for well-being among more than 36,000 seventh- to twelfth-grade students, found that family connectedness was the strongest protective factor against distress, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts. But it also found that feeling connected at school—a child’s next most important community—was strongly protective against substance use, early sexual initiation, and risk of unintentional injury, such as drinking and driving.
Wow
