Factors which contribute to eighth grade students’ feelings of mattering in private schools

• Main Author: Kifiak, Darleen M.
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Private schools > British Columbia; Students > Attitudes; Self-esteem in adolescence; Adolescent psychology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/4677

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