Psychosocial factors related to school satisfaction in times of pandemic in adolescents from northern Chile

Abstract

Chile is a country that was impacted not only by the effects of the pandemic but also by the political and social crisis at the end of 2019. Given this context, the present research aimed to examine the relationship between positive experiences, school-based support, mental health issues, and school satisfaction during the pandemic among adolescents in northern Chile. A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to explore how these factors were associated with the school satisfaction of the adolescents. The results indicate that positive experiences and school-based support were significant factors in explaining school satisfaction during the pandemic. However, when considering the inclusion of mental health symptoms in the model, it was also found to be significant and reduced the effect of positive experiences on school satisfaction. These findings suggest the importance of considering the wide range of adolescent perceptions towards the pandemic, from positive evaluations of interpersonal and school experiences to associated mental health problems. Chilean schools and universities should take into account the inclusion of preventive campaigns and greater emotional health care for their students. Moreover, they should emphasize concrete support actions during the current post-confinement period.