School well‐being among young people: is it influenced by the parents’ socioeconomic background?

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore whether the socioeconomic background of the parents has an impact on the school well‐being of young people aged 14–18. The literature concerning the position of young people with a lower socioeconomic background in education, reports the so‐called gaps between home and school, unequal opportunities, unequal treatment, etc. As a consequence, it is possible that their school well‐being is lower too.

To investigate this research question, a survey was conducted among 1265 young people in Flanders. This study found no evidence that young people with a lower socioeconomic background have a lower school well‐being. When investigating boys and girls separately, a small correlation appears between the educational qualification and the school well‐being of the girls. Several explanations are discussed, and recommendations for further research are made.

Keywords:

• school
• well‐being
• parents
• socioeconomic background
• survey

Notes

1. In a school career without grade retention, secondary education is finished at that age of 18 years in Flanders.

2. In the Flemish educational system, a distinction can be made in ordinary secondary education into four types of education: general secondary education, artistic secondary education, technical secondary education and vocational secondary education. The educational system offers options for differentiation according to interests and capacities (Ministry of the Flemish Community 2005). After the first two years of secondary education, pupils have to choose from one of the four types of education stated above. In practice, it often happens that young people with a lower socioeconomic background end up more frequently in vocational secondary education (Groenez and Nicaise 2002).