The Role of Demographics, Personality Variables and School Stress on Predicting School Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction: Review of the literature and research findings

Abstract

The importance in studying Quality of School Life (QSL) lies predominantly on research findings concerning its relationship with educational outcome. Although some studies have focused on factors affecting QSL, no study so far has assessed various factors of QSL simultaneously, with regard to secondary education, in order to construct a QSL model and establish its best predictors. The present research has attempted to study correlates of QSL including demographic, personality variables and school stress, and construct a consistent model of QSL, using data derived from pupils in two Scottish secondary pupils (n = 425). The model constructed was found able to account for 56% of the QSL variance. Overall results indicated that QSL is predominantly associated with personality factors, in particular school self-esteem. Results are discussed in relation to the 'trait' character of QSL and the educational implications of the model.