IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v12y2025i1d10.1057_s41599-024-04340-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Students’ subjective well-being, school bullying, and belonging during the COVID-19 pandemic: Comparison between PISA 2018 and PISA 2022

Author

Listed:
  • Jian Li

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Eryong Xue

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Wenrui Zhou

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Shuxuan Guo

    (Beijing Normal University)

  • Yimei Zheng

    (Beijing Normal University)

Abstract

It is acknowledged that there are close relations among students’ subjective well-being, school bullying, and belonging. However, it is a dearth of exploring students’ subjective well-being, school bullying, and belonging during the COVID-19 pandemic using a large-scale data with comparative perspectives. Thus, this study used Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018 and 2022 data to explore the factors that influenced students’ subjective well-being (SWB) in six countries and regions (the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Panama, Mexico, Spain, and Hong Kong, China) and examine changes in these factors from 2018 to 2022. 153,052 students were assessed in 2018 and 2022, of which 78,257 were assessed in 2018 and 74,795 were assessed in 2022. The results showed that students’ SWB was significantly lower in 2022 than in 2018. Individual factors had the greatest influence on students’ SWB, and this influence increased from 2018 to 2022. The influence of family factors also increased during this period, whereas the influence of school factors decreased. The factor that was most closely related to SWB changed from parent-child relationships (2018) to students’ health level (2022), which significantly predicted students’ SWB. School bullying had a significant negative impact on students’ SWB, and the need to repeat the grade had a weak negative impact on SWB. In addition, school belonging played a mediating role in the relationship between bullying and students’ SWB, and the influence of students’ family economic status on their SWB was moderated by students’ peer relationships, teacher-student relationships, and parent-child relationships. This study also contributes to timely and effective educational and psychological interventions and implications for students’ subjective well-being, school bullying, and belonging under similar public health emergencies globally.

Suggested Citation

  • Jian Li & Eryong Xue & Wenrui Zhou & Shuxuan Guo & Yimei Zheng, 2025. "Students’ subjective well-being, school bullying, and belonging during the COVID-19 pandemic: Comparison between PISA 2018 and PISA 2022," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-04340-3
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-04340-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-024-04340-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-024-04340-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Amanda Nickerson & Richard Nagle, 2004. "The Influence of Parent and Peer Attachments on Life Satisfaction in Middle Childhood and Early Adolescence," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 66(1), pages 35-60, April.
    2. Elena Govorova & Isabel Benítez & José Muñiz, 2020. "Predicting Student Well-Being: Network Analysis Based on PISA 2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Varela, Jorge J. & Fábrega, Jorge & Carrillo, Gisela & Benavente, Mariavictoria & Alfaro, Jaime & Rodríguez, Carlos, 2020. "Bullying and subjective well-being: A hierarchical socioeconomical status analysis of Chilean adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    4. Säde Stenlund & Niina Junttila & Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen & Lauri Sillanmäki & David Stenlund & Sakari Suominen & Hanna Lagström & Päivi Rautava, 2021. "Longitudinal stability and interrelations between health behavior and subjective well-being in a follow-up of nine years," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(10), pages 1-13, October.
    5. Ihsana Sabriani Borualogo & Ferran Casas, 2023. "Bullying Victimisation and Children’s Subjective Well-being: A Comparative Study in Seven Asian Countries," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(1), pages 1-27, February.
    6. Jorge J. Varela & David Sirlopú & Roberto Melipillán & Dorothy Espelage & Jennifer Green & Javier Guzmán, 2019. "Exploring the Influence School Climate on the Relationship between School Violence and Adolescent Subjective Well-Being," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 12(6), pages 2095-2110, December.
    7. Natalia Czyżowska & Ewa Gurba, 2021. "Does Reflection on Everyday Events Enhance Meaning in Life and Well-Being among Emerging Adults? Self-Efficacy as Mediator between Meaning in Life and Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-14, September.
    8. Jeffrey D. Sachs & Richard Layard & John F. Helliwell, 2018. "World Happiness Report 2018," Working Papers id:12761, eSocialSciences.
    9. Yazmín Hernández-Díaz & Alma Delia Genis-Mendoza & Miguel Ángel Ramos-Méndez & Isela Esther Juárez-Rojop & Carlos Alfonso Tovilla-Zárate & Thelma Beatriz González-Castro & María Lilia López-Narváez & , 2022. "Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mexican Population: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-10, June.
    10. João Lucas Dias-Viana & Ana Paula Porto Noronha & Felipe Valentini., 2023. "Bullying Victimization and Mathematics Achievement Among Brazilian Adolescents: Moderated Mediation Model of School Subjective well-being and Perceived Social Support," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(4), pages 1643-1655, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bhuiyan, Muhammad Faress & Ivlevs, Artjoms, 2019. "Micro-entrepreneurship and subjective well-being: Evidence from rural Bangladesh," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 625-645.
    2. Ihsana Sabriani Borualogo & Ferran Casas, 2023. "Bullying Victimisation and Children’s Subjective Well-being: A Comparative Study in Seven Asian Countries," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(1), pages 1-27, February.
    3. Arunee Hengyotmark & Wichitra Kusoom, 2022. "Physical as Well as Psychological Distress and Coping with Situational Dilemmas Experienced by People Infected with COVID-19: A Mixed Method Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Tofallis, Chris, 2020. "Which formula for national happiness?," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    5. SZONDI Réka & HÉDER-RIMA Mária, 2020. "Knowledge Transfer As A Condition Of Employee Dedication," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(1), pages 122-132, July.
    6. Wang, Daojuan & Hain, Daniel S. & Larimo, Jorma & Dao, Li T., 2020. "Cultural differences and synergy realization in cross-border acquisitions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).
    7. Allen, Jaime & Muñoz, Juan Carlos & Ortúzar, Juan de Dios, 2019. "On evasion behaviour in public transport: Dissatisfaction or contagion?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 626-651.
    8. Dang, Hai-Anh H. & Serajuddin, Umar, 2020. "Tracking the sustainable development goals: Emerging measurement challenges and further reflections," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    9. Mihajlović Iris & Djevojić Cvijeta & Stanković Marino, 2023. "Adolescent Well-being and Life Satisfaction: Impact of Digital Technology Usage," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 14(2), pages 124-144, December.
    10. Gregorio Gimenez & Ana Isabel Gil-Lacruz & Marta Gil-Lacruz, 2021. "Is Happiness Linked to Subjective Life Expectancy? A Study of Chilean Senior Citizens," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(17), pages 1-12, August.
    11. Tingting Zhang & Dan He & Tian Kuang & Ke Chen, 2022. "Effect of Rural Human Settlement Environment around Nature Reserves on Farmers’ Well-Being: A Field Survey Based on 1002 Farmer Households around Six Nature Reserves in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-18, May.
    12. Adeem Ahmad Massarwi & Daphna Gross-Manos, 2022. "The Association between Bullying Victimization and Subjective Well-Being among Children: Does the Role of Child Religiosity Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, August.
    13. Nicola Pontarollo & Mercy Orellana & Joselin Segovia, 2020. "The Determinants of Subjective Well-Being in a Developing Country: The Ecuadorian Case," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(8), pages 3007-3035, December.
    14. Rubén Arrondo & Ana Cárcaba & Eduardo González, 2021. "Drivers of Subjective Well-being in Spain: Are There Gender Differences?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(5), pages 2131-2154, October.
    15. Arnaud Joskin, 2019. "Working Paper 02-19 - Inégalités de bien-être en Belgique - Construction de onze indicateurs composites pour mesurer le bien-être de différentes catégories de la population [Working Paper 02-19 - O," Working Papers 1902, Federal Planning Bureau, Belgium.
    16. Małgorzata Szcześniak & Iga Bajkowska & Anna Czaprowska & Aleksandra Sileńska, 2022. "Adolescents’ Self-Esteem and Life Satisfaction: Communication with Peers as a Mediator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, March.
    17. Mario J. Valladares-Garrido & Luis Eduardo Zapata-Castro & Cinthia Karina Picón-Reategui & Ana Paula Mesta-Pintado & Ronald Alberto Picón-Reategui & Mariana Huaman-Garcia & César Johan Pereira-Victori, 2022. "Association between Working Time and Burnout Syndrome in Peruvian Military during the Second Epidemic Wave of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    18. Juliane Scheffel & Yiwei Zhang, 2019. "How does internal migration affect the emotional health of elderly parents left-behind?," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 32(3), pages 953-980, July.
    19. Camilo Herrera & Javier Torres-Vallejos & Jonathan Martínez-Líbano & Andrés Rubio & Cristian Céspedes & Juan Carlos Oyanedel & Eduardo Acuña & Danae Pedraza, 2022. "Perceived Collective School Efficacy Mediates the Organizational Justice Effect in Teachers’ Subjective Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-10, September.
    20. Keb Hernández-Peña & Gemma María Gea-García & Juan Pedro García-Fuentes & Luis Manuel Martínez-Aranda & Ruperto Menayo Antúnez, 2022. "Personality Trait Changes in Athletic Training Students during Their University Career: Effects of Academic Stress or COVID-19 Pandemic?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-04340-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.