The Sense of School Belonging and Implementation of a Prevention Program: Toward Healthier Interpersonal Relationships Among Early Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study is to pave the way for the establishment of healthy interpersonal relations by facilitating an understanding of the impacts of Lions Quest Skills for Adolescence as perceived by adolescents and teachers who took part in it. Lions Quest has become recognized as an evidence-based program for preventing alcohol and drug use through the development of social skills and the promotion of meaningful engagement in the school community (Lions Clubs International, Overview of Skills for Adolescence 2013). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7th and 8th grade Francophone and Anglophone adolescents from three schools in Eastern Ontario who had participated in Lions Quest. Deductive and inductive analysis of interview transcripts clearly underscored that the positive perceptions of those early adolescents on the quality of their relationships with friends outweigh the negative impression that can be created by peer pressures at this age. It is through such a filter that these adolescents came to appreciate the impact of Lions Quest. Their need to be part of a circle of friends also comes to the fore as a crucial component of a sense of school belonging (Faircloth and Hamm (2005) J Youth Adolesc 34:293–309), highlighting the need to incorporate more of this form of positive social norm into interventions and prevention geared toward early adolescents. The data also underline the complementary importance attributed to having positive relationships with supportive adults.

Sense of Belonging and Hope in the Lives of Persons with Schizophrenia

“…Having a positive sense of belonging has been found to enhance interpersonal, professional and academic success, improve self-concept, to be a protective factor for suicide and overall to be vital to psychological functioning (Brown, Silvia, Myin-Germeys, & Kwapil, 2007; Drolet, Arcand, Ducharme, & Leblanc, 2013; Hagerty, Williams, Coyne, & Early, 1996; Kissane & McLaren, 2006). The data underscore that meaningful connections and presence of others in the lives of persons with schizophrenia can impact well-being and mental health.…”

Clustering of health-related behaviours and its relationship with individual and contextual factors in Portuguese adolescents: results from a cross-sectional study

“…Hence, our study points out that family communication, academic performance, school attachment and violent behaviours are possible areas for family and school-based health-promoting interventions. Other studies have demonstrated that interventions promoting positive interactions and effective communication between family members and between teachers and students help to develop a sense of belonging to families, schools, and communities and may promote healthier behaviours in adolescence [53][54][55].…”

Association between School Membership and Substance Use among Adolescents

“…For instance, some studies have highlighted the benefit of using programs that help to develop constructive commitment and sense of belonging to families, schools, and communities. This is performed through the development of social skills and competences that allow them to communicate effectively, make better decisions, build better self-esteem, and have a greater sense of personal responsibility ( 48 , 49 ). Additionally, interventions that promote positive relationships between teachers and students and a sense of belonging may also help to promote other healthy behaviors ( 50 ).…”