Authors

• Konu, Anne (University of Tampere. School of Health Sciences)

Keywords

health, lower secondary schools, parental encouragement, peer-group relationships, satisfaction, school bullying, school-student relationship, schoolchildren, schools, social networks, teacher-student relationship

Abstract

The survey focused on school well-being in grades 7-9 in Finland, studying student opinions on school facilities, the learning environment, social relationships in school, and means for self-fulfilment in school, as well as the students' perceived health status. The survey contained both statements and multiple choice questions. The respondents indicated to what extent they agreed with the statements using a five-point scale (i.e. from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree").

School facilities were studied with a number of questions about the classroom (e.g. size, temperature, ventilation, desks), toilet facilities, the dining room, the schoolyard and the school building (e.g. safety, functionality). Access to the school nurse and the school welfare officer were charted as well as opinions on the school timetable, order in the classroom, school rules and punishments, and the amount of school work. The statements relating to social relationships canvassed student-student relationships (e.g. classmate support, being accepted by others) and teacher-student relationships (e.g. fairness and friendliness of teachers). The respondents were asked whether they had been bullied at school during the ongoing term and whether they themselves had bullied someone else. Parental attitudes to homework and school were studied. The respondents were asked, for instance, whether their parents appreciated their school work, encouraged them to achieve better performance in school and helped them with homework if needed.

The statements on self-fulfilment explored different aspects of school work. Opinions were charted on whether student opinions were taken into account in developing the school and in drawing up school rules (school democracy), and whether teachers encouraged students to express their views. Views were probed on whether the respondents appreciated their school work, whether school work was easy, whether they had found a study method that suited them, and whether they had a chance to receive remedial teaching if needed. Regarding health, the respondents were asked about their perceived general health and whether they had had various symptoms (e.g. stomach ache, sleeping problems, headache, fear, anxiety) during the ongoing term.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, grade, and class id.