www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
Researcher Roya Dedeaux recognizes
that there is significant diversity and com-
plexity amongst the homeschooling com-
munity and its subcultures. With that in
mind, she purposed in her study “. . . to ex-
plore the demographics of grown home-
schoolers and parents of homeschoolers
in the United States, measure their men-
tal health characteristics, including levels
of depression, anxiety, overall happiness,
prioritization of character strengths, and
to understand their attitude towards seek-
ing psychotherapy” (p. 6). 2
She posited that the information gath-
ered from her study would benefit mar-
riage counselors and family therapists
by providing information to help indi-
vidualize treatment to better serve this
particular subset of society. Dedeaux
also aimed to help those related to home-
schooling be better served “. . . by gain-
ing access to mental health care that
provides culturally-appropriate and
empathetic treatment” (p. 6). Two of the
research questions follow: “What are the
mental health characteristics of grown
homeschoolers and parents of home-
schoolers in the United States? And what
is the general attitude towards seeking
professional psychotherapy of grown
homeschoolers and parents of home-
schoolers in the United States?”
The subjects of the study included
1,052 participants between the ages of 18
and 66 who were either homeschooled
as a minor, or a homeschooling parent.
They comprised a wide range of house-
hold incomes, ethnicities, and religious
and educational backgrounds. They were
or had been involved in homeschooling
for a wide range of reasons. The subjects
lived in 46 states.
Findings
Researcher Dedeaux came to many conclusions. Here is the first: “
Homeschoolers appear to have fewer depressive
symptoms than the general population”
(p. 86). And the second follows: “
Homeschoolers who spent more time with other homeschoolers reported fewer depressive symptoms” (p. 86).
Digging further, she found the follow-
ing: “Grown homeschoolers and home-
schooling parents were found to have
overall happiness levels that mirror the
general population. Unschoolers had a
higher mean score on the OHQ [than
others in the study], showing more indi-
cators of happiness. Individuals who had
prior therapeutic treatment had slightly
higher levels of happiness . . .” (p. 87).
Other findings popped up that might
not surprise the homeschooling commu-
nity. For example, consider the following:
“When looking at rankings of character
strengths, it was found that homeschool-
ers and unschoolers as a group did not
mirror the general population, and had
different rankings when compared to
each other. . . . For example, both groups
of homeschoolers rank “love of learning”
This is another
study that supports
the notion that the
home educated are
generally doing well.
