The self-systems: facilitating personal well-being experiences at school

Abstract

The focus of inquiry pertaining to quality learning and student well-being experiences at school has involved numerous studies, utilizing complex quantitative methodological approaches. In a similar vein, for consideration of research advancement, there has been extensive progress made regarding motivational tenets of effective learning and enriched schooling experiences. We recently developed a model of student learning and school experiences (Phan in Progress in Education, vol 33. Nova Science Publishing, New York, pp 101–121, 2015; Phan and Ngu in Int J Pedag Curric 22(4):1–19, 2015a), detailing a number of personal, cognitive, motivational, and emotional components for validation and implementation. The present study, situated within the self-systems framework, explored the central roles and differential influences of three major components on adaptive outcomes: emotional well-being, daily functioning, and relating to others. Structural equation modelling analyses of 258 year 8 secondary school students produced some notable evidence for potential educational-social practices: (1) the positive influences of self-esteem on daily functioning and motivation towards schooling and learning, (2) the inverse association between self-efficacy and emotional well-being, and (3) the positive influences of relating to others on motivation towards schooling and learning, and liking for school. We also noted, however, some unexpected and inconclusive findings for discussion—for example, the negative influence of daily functioning on motivation towards schooling and learning.