R ESEARCH A RTICLE Barriers, Enablers, and Possible Solutions for Student Wellness: A Qualitative Analysis of Student, Administrators, and Staff Perspectives GEORGIANNA MANN, PhD a KIMBERLY KAISER, PhD b NOAH TRAPP, BS c ANNE CAFER, PhD d KHYLA GRANT, e KRITIKA GUPTA, MS f CANDACE BOLDEN, BS g ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Child well-being, which includes physical, mental, and social health, has a critical effect on academic performance. Schools face many challenges in meeting needs for child well-being. Schools in low-resource areas, including the Mississippi Delta, face greater challenges when meeting student needs. METHODS: Eleven focus groups with middle school students and 12 interviews with teachers, staff, and administration in one Mississippi Delta middle school were completed in 2019. The Social Ecological Model and Theory of Organizational Readiness for Change were used as a framework for the study. RESULTS: Focus group data with middle school students and interviews with teachers, staff, and administrators show that academic stressors play a major role in student well-being; yet, teachers, staff, and administrators face immense pressure to achieve high test scores. However, students seem to be encouraged by a positive school environment, which could help minimize some stressors. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that small improvements to the school environment could have a significant effect on student well-being, especially when school infrastructure and limited resources do not support comprehensive changes. Keywords: child and adolescent health; health policy; organization and administration of school health programs. Citation: Mann G, Kaiser K, Trapp N, Cafer A, Grant K, Gupta K, Bolden C. Barriers, enablers, and possible solutions for student wellness: a qualitative analysis of student, administrators, and staff perspectives. J Sch Health. 2021; DOI: 10.1111/josh.13092 Received on April 21, 2020 Accepted on March 22, 2021 S chools are an important epicenter of child well- being. 1-3 Child well-being has a significant effect on academic performance and encompasses physical activity, diet, mental health, and social support. 4-6 A lack of well-being negatively affects academic a Assistant Professor, (grmann@olemiss.edu), Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management, University of Mississippi, 220 Lenoir Hall, P.O. Box 1848 University, MS 38677. b Assistant Professor, (kakaise1@go.olemiss.edu), Department of Legal Studies, University of Mississippi, M302 Mayes University, MS 38677. c Medical student, (noahbtrapp@gmail.com), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Health Sciences Learning Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 750 Highland Ave. Madison, WI 53705. d Assistant Professor, (amcafer@olemiss.edu), Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Mississippi, 543 Lamar Hall University, MS 38677, e Undergraduate student, (kgrant6@okramail.deltastate.edu), Division of Family and Consumer Sciences, Highway 8 West, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS 38733. f Graduate Student, (kgupta3@go.olemiss.edu), Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management, University of Mississippi, 116 Lenoir Hall, P.O. Box 1848 University, MS 38677. g Undergraduate student, (cfbolden@go.olemiss.edu), Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management, University of Mississippi, 108 Lenoir Hall, P.O. Box 1848 University, MS 38677. Address correspondence to: Georgianna Mann, Assistant Professor, (grmann@olemiss.edu), Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management 220 Lenoir Hall, P.O. Box 1848 University of Mississippi University, MS 38677. We would like to thank Kennedy Cohn, Candaysha Jones, Abigail Johnson, Natalie Teyema, Sophie Straub, Shanda Martin, Sydney Mitchell, and Rachael Pace for their participation in the College2Youth program which was integral for this data collection. We would like to thank the study school for their willingness to participate in this research. This work was supported by internal funding from the University of Mississippi. achievement and leads to long-lasting diseases like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. 7-9 Furthermore, emphasis on student diet can create both direct and indirect positive influences on physical and mental health. 10 Journal of School Health • 2021 •  2021, American School Health Association • 1