Did you know that over 90% of the world’s children breathe polluted air every day? According to The World Health Organization, air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health, but its impact goes beyond physical well-being. For students, the cost isn’t just physical–it’s educational and emotional, too. In my recent research, I explored how poor air quality, specifically PM2.5 level, impacts students’ academic performance, motivation, and mental health in the United States. This research was a dive into the intersection of environment, health, and education.
Understanding the Guiding Question
My guiding question–“How does the air we breathe affect our ability to learn, focus, and thrive?”–aims to uncover the invisible barriers standing between students and their potential. Addressing this question is vital because it sheds light on a hidden obstacle to students’ success that is often overlooked in discussions about education. As a high school student myself, I was curious about how students, especially those in vulnerable locations, are impacted by this environmental issue. I wanted to understand how I can be impacted by this unseen barrier. The study I conducted uncovers insights about the relationship between air quality and student outcomes and emphasizes what this means for addressing air quality in schools nationwide.
While the headlines often focus on air quality’s impact on physical health, such as respiratory problems, my study sought to reveal its broader effects on education and mental well-being.
The Study’s Approach
The study combined insights from existing research with an original experiment to explore the relationship between air quality and student outcomes. To gather data, I designed a self-assessment online questionnaire that was distributed to high school students across the United States. The primary metric for measuring air quality was particulate matter (PM2.5), a pollutant known to pose serious health risks. My hypothesis was straightforward: better air quality (lower PM2.5 levels) would correlate with improved academic performance, motivation, and mental health among students.
To analyze this, I paired Air Quality Index (AQI) readings from PurpleAir monitors with students’ questionnaire responses. Participants aged 12-20, were asked to evaluate their productivity, motivation, and mental health on the day they completed the survey. I then used statistical tests (such as t-tests, which help compare groups to find significant differences) and data visualization tools to find patterns in the data. The findings revealed the following notable trends:
- Students in areas with higher AQI values (poorer air quality) reported lower productivity levels and reduced motivation (as shown in the figure below)
- Those exposed to higher PM2.5 levels were more likely to report feelings of restlessness, stress, anxiety, and depression
- Conversely, students in areas with lower AQI levels (better air quality) reported better mental health and academic outcomes
Key Insights
Implications: Age and Awareness
One surprising finding was that older students showed more awareness of poor air quality than younger students. This age-related disparity in awareness may stem from several factors, such as differences in education, greater media exposure to environmental issues, or cognitive development that allows older students to better understand complex concepts such as air quality and its implications. This insight highlights the need for targeted educational initiatives that engage younger students early, increasing awareness and understanding of environmental challenges from an early age. Incorporating air quality topics into school curriculums or extracurricular activities could bridge this gap, ensuring that all students–regardless of age–are informed how to act.
Implications: Environmental Justice
Another thing to consider is the inequitable impact of poor air quality on vulnerable communities, particularly low-income and marginalized students. These groups may often live in areas with higher levels of air pollution, from proximity to industrial zones or highways. This may drastically increase the challenges they face, not only in physical health but also in educational and mental well-being. Addressing air quality is not just about environmental justice–it’s about ensuring equitable opportunities for all students to thrive.
Bridging the Gap
The results of this research highlight a critical issue: the environment in which students learn profoundly influences their academic performance and mental health. Poor air quality can have long-term consequences in educational and health outcomes. This underscores the urgent need for immediate action to improve air quality, particularly within schools and other spaces where students spend a significant portion of their time. Improving air quality isn’t just the responsibility of policy makers–it’s a collective effort. Schools can invest in better ventilation systems, communities can advocate for stricter emissions regulations, and students can raise awareness through projects and activism. Together, we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn and thrive in a healthy environment.
Raval, T. (2024). The impact of air quality on students’ academics, motivation, and mental health. Curieux Academic Journal, 40(Pt. 2), 271-281.