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Who Benefits from Single-Sex Schooling? Evidence on Mental Health, Peer Relationships, and Academic Achievements

Author

Listed:
  • Jung, Dain

    (Liaoning University)

  • Kim, Jun Hyung

    (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)

  • Kwak, Do Won

    (Korea University)

Abstract

Single-sex schooling is a controversial policy whose effects are inconsistent across different studies with its mechanisms poorly understood. Leveraging the random allocation of high school students in South Korea, we study the effect of single-sex schooling on mental health while considering its interactions with peer relationships and academic achievement. Our results closely align with gender-specific responses to competitive pressure in the literature. Female students with better academic achievement than their peers experience better mental health and peer relationships. However, relatively underperforming female students, subject to intense competitive pressure at school, do not benefit from being in the company of other female students in a single-sex environment. Impacts on male students do not significantly depend on the competitive pressures they face. Our study calls for caution in implementing educational policies that may affect competitive pressure or gender composition in schools.

Suggested Citation

  • Jung, Dain & Kim, Jun Hyung & Kwak, Do Won, 2024. "Who Benefits from Single-Sex Schooling? Evidence on Mental Health, Peer Relationships, and Academic Achievements," IZA Discussion Papers 17330, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17330
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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