Academic ‘learned helplessness’ is more common in girls — but a teacher-student connection and a strong sense of place can help (Raufelder & Kulakow, 2022)

Recent research in German schools has found that certain factors influence learned helplessness in students. Learned helplessness has enduring implications for students and can occur in multiple environments and contexts — and, importantly, it is more prevalent in girls. Prevention strategies, such as teacher-student relationships and a sense of belonging are protective but must start early, and the threat of exclusion can interfere with their efficacy.