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Learning Theory and Concepts

School Belonging

Motivation and Affective Theories

School belonging is most widely defined, following a 1993 study by Carol Goodenow and Kathleen Grady, as the extent to which students feel personally accepted, respected, included and supported by others in the school social environment. The construct encompasses both feeling emotionally connected and attached to one's school and actively participating in the school community, and students who lack it are often described as alienated or disaffected from their educational environment.

Facts
Core Claim
School belonging is the extent to which students feel personally accepted, respected, included, and supported by others in the school social environment. 1
Origin Year
1993 1
FAQs

Does a student's sense of school belonging change with age?

Yes. It tends to be high in childhood and drops significantly in middle school and adolescence.

Research indicates that it tends to decrease as students grow older. In one study involving students from Latin America, Asia and Europe, children generally reported high levels of school belonging, but once they moved into middle school and adolescence their perceptions of belonging dropped significantly. Another study found that belonging declined in the move from middle to high school, alongside an increase in depressive symptoms and a decline in social support, which could be either causes or consequences of the decline.
Sources
1. School Belonging (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section, first paragraph
    The most commonly used definition of school belonging comes from a 1993 academic article by researchers Carol Goodenow and Kathleen Grady
  • Lead section, definition sentence
    the extent to which students feel personally accepted, respected , included, and supported by others in the school social environment.
  • In Group: Self-Belief, Attribution and Belonging, Lead
    The most commonly used definition of school belonging comes from a 1993 academic article by researchers Carol Goodenow and Kathleen Grady, who describe school belonging as "the extent to which students feel personally accepted, respected, included, and supported by others in the school social environment." The construct of school belonging involves feeling connected with and attached to one's school.
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