School belonging moderates the relationship between childhood trauma and psychopathology in adolescence

Objectives This study examined whether school belonging moderates associations between childhood trauma and internalising and externalising mental health symptoms among Australian adolescents. Methods Data came from baseline of a school-based prevention program trial in 9 Australian schools. Participants were 750 students (Mage = 13.8 years; 60.4% male; 36.9% female; 91.3% Australian-born). In 2023, students completed self-report measures of lifetime trauma, school belonging, anxiety and depressive symptoms, conduct problems, and hyperactivity. Linear mixed-effects models tested interactions between trauma and school belonging, adjusting for school clustering, age, and gender. Results Trauma exposure and greater number of traumatic events were associated with lower school belonging and higher symptoms across all domains. School belonging moderated associations between trauma and depression and anxiety, and between number of traumatic events and depression, anxiety, and conduct problems, but not hyperactivity. Conclusion Higher school belonging buffered symptoms of depression, anxiety, and conduct problems, underscoring the importance of school environments.