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School satisfaction and social relations: Swedish schoolchildren’s improvement suggestions

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

The aim was to explore schoolchildren’s views on how to increase school satisfaction and improve social relations among peers at school.

Method

Improvement suggestions were collected from school children aged 10–12 years with the help of a feedback model developed for the purpose. Qualitative content analysis was used.

Results

Two categories emerged from the analysis: ‘psychosocial climate’, which included the subcategories ‘adults’ roles and responsibilities’ and ‘classmates’ norms and values’; ‘influence’, which included the subcategories ‘changes in the physical environment’ and ‘flexible learning’. The categories are seen as important to increase school satisfaction and improve social relations among peers at school.

Conclusion

Examining children’s opinions is requested and promoted by the UN convention on the Rights of the Child. The findings contribute to the field by showing how school satisfaction and social relations might be improved, if the child perspective is considered in the planning of health promotion activities in school.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Swedish National Institute of Public Health and formalized as an agreement between Karlstad University and the City of Karlstad.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research on Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Karlstad University, 651 88, Karlstad, Sweden

    Louise Persson & Curt Hagquist

  2. Department of Research and Development, Region Halland, Halmstad, Sweden

    Katarina Haraldsson

Authors
  1. Louise Persson
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  2. Katarina Haraldsson
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  3. Curt Hagquist
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Correspondence to Louise Persson.

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Persson, L., Haraldsson, K. & Hagquist, C. School satisfaction and social relations: Swedish schoolchildren’s improvement suggestions. Int J Public Health 61, 83–90 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0696-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0696-5

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