Abstract
This study of 461 middle school students explored associations between perceived school climate and life satisfaction. At
the bivariate level, higher life satisfaction co-occurred with greater perceptions of each aspect of school climate. Taken
together, students’ perceptions of school climate accounted for 19 % of the variance in their life satisfaction. When controlling
for the commonality amongst school climate dimensions, four of six dimensions (i.e., student interpersonal relations, student-teacher
relations, order and discipline, and parent involvement in schooling) emerged as unique predictors of life satisfaction. Follow-up
analyses clarified that parent involvement in schooling co-occurred with greater life satisfaction for girls only. Preventative
strategies to promote youth life satisfaction by targeting the most salient aspects of school climate are suggested.
the bivariate level, higher life satisfaction co-occurred with greater perceptions of each aspect of school climate. Taken
together, students’ perceptions of school climate accounted for 19 % of the variance in their life satisfaction. When controlling
for the commonality amongst school climate dimensions, four of six dimensions (i.e., student interpersonal relations, student-teacher
relations, order and discipline, and parent involvement in schooling) emerged as unique predictors of life satisfaction. Follow-up
analyses clarified that parent involvement in schooling co-occurred with greater life satisfaction for girls only. Preventative
strategies to promote youth life satisfaction by targeting the most salient aspects of school climate are suggested.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s11482-012-9185-7
- Authors
- Shannon M. Suldo, Department of Psychological and Social Foundations, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, EDU 105, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
- Amanda Thalji-Raitano, Department of Psychological and Social Foundations, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, EDU 105, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
- Michelle Hasemeyer, Department of Psychological and Social Foundations, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, EDU 105, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
- Cheryl D. Gelley, Department of Psychological and Social Foundations, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, EDU 105, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
- Brenna Hoy, Department of Psychological and Social Foundations, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, EDU 105, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
- Journal Applied Research in Quality of Life
- Online ISSN 1871-2576
- Print ISSN 1871-2584