Comfort, Care, and Connection: A Qualitative Inquiry into Young Adolescents’ Perspectives on Belonging in School

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  In Virtual iPresentation Only: SIG-Adolescence and Youth Development Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

This study explores how young adolescents make meaning of school belonging and the factors they perceive as shaping that experience. Fourteen focus groups were conducted with 114 Grade 6–8 students across diverse school contexts in British Columbia, Canada. Thematic analysis revealed that students experienced school belonging through three interrelated processes: comfort, care, and connection. Each process was expressed across interactions with peers, adults, and the school environment. Students’ narratives pointed to specific practices and structural features that either enhanced or disrupted their sense of belonging. These findings foreground adolescents’ voices as vital sources of insight into developmental needs and school improvement efforts. The study offers actionable guidance for creating emotionally safe, inclusive schools and contributes to adolescent-centered, future-oriented educational research.

Authors

• Tonje Mari Molyneux, University of British Columbia

• Anusha Kassan, University of British Columbia

• Jenna D. Shapka, University of British Columbia

• Eva Oberle, University of British Columbia