Summary: | This study examined eighth grade students' perceived degree of mattering in their
private school environments. Mattering, as defined by Rosenberg and McCullough (1981),
is a person's sense that he is the object of interest and importance to others, he is wanted or
serves as an ego-extension for others, and others depend on him. The study included 167
students from three urban private schools in the lower mainland. Students completed The
Ways of Mattering Questionnaire (Individual and Group Forms), and a one page
questionnaire, providing information about students' academic self-concept (Bachman's
scale), student involvement in extracurricular school activities, and selected demographic
variables. Step-wise multiple regression revealed that gender and grade point average were
statistically significant predictive variables on the Group Mattering Scale in student to
teacher relationships, and only grade point average was a significant predictive variable on
the Individual Mattering Scale (student to peer relationships). Recommendations are
provided for further study into students' feelings of mattering in the school environment. === Education, Faculty of === Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of === Graduate
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