학교 유형, 또래문화, 위험행동: 단성학교의 성별 차이를 중심으로 = School Type and Adolescent Risk Behavior: Evidence on Gender Differences in Single-Sex Schooling

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study examines the causal effect of attending a single-sex school on adolescent risk behaviors in Korea, utilizing the randomized middle school assignment policy. Leveraging the quasi-random allocation of students within their residential school districts, this study addresses the selection bias that has limited previous research relying on observational data. The analysis uses the Youth Media Use and Harmful Environment Survey, a nationally administered biennial survey conducted since 2016. I focused on six behavioral outcomes: gambling, running away from home, drinking, smoking, drug use, and experiences of school violence. The regression results indicate that the effects of single-sex schooling differ substantially by gender. For male students, attending a single-sex school increases the likelihood of smoking and experiencing school violence, compared to male students attending coeducational schools. In contrast, for female students, single-sex schooling significantly reduces the likelihood of engaging in all risky behaviors. These findings suggest that peer composition and school type play an important role in shaping behavioral outcomes during adolescence. Policy implications highlight the need for differentiated prevention strategies that take into account school characteristics and gender-specific dynamics.