For the first time, national figures are available on the mental health of students in Cluster 4 and practical education. On average, Cluster 4 students (students with psychological and/or behavioural problems) give their lives a lower rating than students in practical education and vmbo-b. They also experience more pressure from schoolwork and less support than their peers in the other types of education.
This is demonstrated by the national EXPLORE study by the Trimbos Institute into the mental well-being of young people aged 12 to 16 in Cluster 4 and practical education. The results are compared with young people in vmbo-b education because this is the closest in terms of educational level.
Additional attention for Cluster 4 students
On average, students in Cluster 4 education give their lives a lower rating (7.1) than students in practical education (8.2) and vmbo-b (7.6). They also experience less positive mental health as well as poorer general health. Three-quarters of Cluster 4 students rate their own health as good or excellent (74%), compared with 81% and 83% in practical education and vmbo-b, respectively.
Cluster 4 students also experience more pressure from schoolwork (23%) than students in practical education (8%) and vmbo-b (18%). The relatively low level of school pressure among young people in practical education may be explained by the way practical education is organised. In practical education, students receive practice-oriented subjects tailored to an individual development plan. It is also possible that these young people experience less pressure from their surroundings (parents and school).
Social support from their surroundings is important
Students in Cluster 4 and practical education experience less social support from others than students in vmbo-b. This is concerning, because perceived social support is an important protective factor and influences, for example, well-being and self-esteem (Rueger et al., 2016; Kleinjan et al., 2020). More attention to social support and ways to develop a network that can provide support is therefore needed for young people in Cluster 4 and practical education.
Appropriate prevention programmes needed to strengthen mental health
This research shows that additional attention from prevention programmes aimed at promoting mental health within practical education, and particularly Cluster 4 education, as well as monitoring their effects, is desirable. When developing prevention programmes for these types of education, the level of the teaching materials and the young people’s language skills must be taken into account. Although there are currently several programmes aimed at socio-emotional skills within special education (such as de Vreedzame School and Taakspel), there are few or no programmes specifically focused on mental health skills within these types of education. In addition, an integrated approach is important when implementing programmes: this involves attention to policy, education, identification and support, and parental involvement, as applied, among other places, within the national Welbevinden op school programme.
About the EXPLORE study
The EXPLORE study is a national study into the extent of substance use among young people in practical education, special secondary education (Clusters 3 and 4), residential youth care and juvenile detention centres. The aim of the EXPLORE study is to provide data to support and develop an effective preventive approach to (problematic) substance use among vulnerable young people. In addition to substance use, a number of questions about mental well-being were asked in practical education and Cluster 4 education. The figures in this report are compared with figures for vmbo-b from the 'Geluk onder druk' study. The authors are Marieke Rombouts, Fleur Lugten, Marloes Kleinjan and Karin Monshouwer.