Schools as caring communities: The predictive role of adolescents’ subjective well-being, forgiveness, and learning climate.


Αικατερίνη Λαμπροπούλου
Panagiotis Lianos
Abstract

 


The present research examines adolescents’ perceptions regarding school climate and in particular the predictive role of subjective well-being, forgiveness, and learning climate regarding the extent to which adolescents perceive their school as a caring community. It has been shown in the literature that perceptions of schools as caring communities is related to positive psychology concepts such as students' subjective well-being and forgiveness and positive learning climate. It is critical to investigating the predictive role of these variables in students' perceptions of their school as a caring community is important for developing appropriate interventions. 1375 adolescents attending schools in the broader area of Attica completed Heartland Forgiveness Scale, School as Caring Community Profile, Learning Climate Questionnaire, and Bernne Questionnaire of Subjective Well-Being. Results showed that adolescents generally have a satisfactory level of well-being and a rather positive perception of their school, while the most significant predictive factors were learning climate and tendency to forgive others. Differences were found in terms of gender and age. Girls and older adolescents seem to be less satisfied with their lives, while younger adolescents who perceive a positive learning climate tend to forgive others more. Further, girls who experience a positive learning climate are more forgiving of others and report lower levels of somatic complaints and depressive mood. Finally, boys who do not feel academically supported by teachers are less forgiving of others and report higher levels of depressive mood and negative behavior at school. The results are discussed in relation to school psychological services provision.

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