Impacts of religious secondary schools in Hong Kong on student attitudes towards school life

Abstract

Research shows that religious schools foster academic achievements among middle and high schoolers. However, research into student attitudes towards the quality of school life in religious schools remains scarce. This study utilised a questionnaire to assess the relationship between a school’s religious affiliation and students’ religious affect, life satisfaction, personality, age, gender, and attitudes towards school. A sample of 4,468 secondary students (mean age: 14.1 years) was surveyed in Hong Kong. School life was measured by the six aspects: general school character, experience, worship, stewardship, relationships, and religious character. One-way MANOVA analyses revealed that school religious affiliations and personality factors have distinct effects on their attitudes towards school life. The importance of considering individual and contextual factors in understanding and strategies to enhance students’ positive attitudes towards school life is discussed.