مسیر مدرسه و سلامت دانش‌آموزان: مقایسه سلامت روانی دانش‌آموزان در روش‌های مختلف سرویس‌دهی مدارس

وحید فیروز جهانتیغ; غلامرضا ثناگوی محرر; محمدعلی  فردین

Authors

Vahid Firuz Jahantigh Department of Psychology, ZAH.C., Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3755-9172
Gholamreza Sanagouye Moharer .Department of Psychology, ZAH.C., Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6991-8328
Mohammadali Fardin Department of Psychology, ZAH.C., Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2221-2904

Keywords:

Mental health, students, service provision, school route

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Students’ daily travel from home to school is an important but often overlooked aspect of their educational and psychosocial experience, as it may shape their emotional state, perceived safety, peer interactions, and mental well-being. This study aimed to compare the mental health of male and female high-school students across different modes of school transportation.

Methodology: This descriptive causal-comparative study was conducted among male and female upper-secondary school students in District 2 of Zahedan, Iran, aged 16 to 18 years. The sample consisted of 352 students, including 176 girls and 176 boys, selected through a combination of cluster and stratified sampling methods. Incomplete questionnaires were excluded before final analysis. Data were collected using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, which includes two subscales: positive mental health symptoms and psychological disorder symptoms. The transportation modes examined in the study included traveling with family, active transportation, school service transportation, and public transportation. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance and between-subjects effects tests.

Findings: The inferential results showed a statistically significant difference in students’ mental health across different school transportation modes. Wilks’ Lambda indicated that the dependent mental health variables differed significantly among the transportation groups. The between-subjects effects further showed significant differences in positive mental health symptoms, psychological disorder symptoms, and general mental health. The lowest level of mental health was observed among students using active transportation, followed by those using public transportation. More favorable mental health status was reported among students using school service transportation and those traveling with their families.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that school transportation mode is significantly associated with students’ mental health and that different commuting patterns may produce distinct psychological experiences for boys and girls. Overall, girls reported poorer mental health than boys in active and public transportation modes, whereas boys showed poorer mental health than girls when traveling with family or school service transportation. These results highlight the need to consider safety, supervision, route quality, emotional experience, and gender-specific needs in school transportation planning and educational health policies.

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