Comparing U.S. and Finnish Network Structures: School Climate, Student Well-Being, and Academic Performance

• In Event: School Climate, Student Well-Being, and Engagement

Abstract

This study utilized psychological network analysis to investigate the mediating role of student psychological well-being (PWB) in the connection between school climate and student academic performance. We compared the U.S. and Finland samples from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018. We found in the American and Finnish networks, teacher enthusiasm predominantly shaped positive school climates, and student resilience was central to PWB, the disruptive behavior–academic performance link was not mediated by PWB in either sample, and the links connecting both school community and teaching and learning to academic performance were mediated by PWB for the Finland group but not for the U.S., These cross-cultural variations provide insights in designing cost-effective interventions to improve academic performance.

Authors

• Yuyan Xia, University of Kentucky

• Rui Jin, Shenzhen University

• Chunling Niu, University of the Incarnate Word

• Mingren Zhao, Shenzhen University