IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v20y2019i7d10.1007_s10902-018-0052-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Hope as Mediator Between Teacher–Student Relationships and Life Satisfaction Among Chinese Adolescents: A Between- and Within-Person Effects Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Qian Nie

    (Southwest University)

  • Zhaojun Teng

    (Southwest University)

  • George G. Bear

    (University of Delaware)

  • Cheng Guo

    (Southwest University)

  • Yanling Liu

    (Southwest University)

  • Dajun Zhang

    (Southwest University)

Abstract

Life satisfaction is a critical indicator of student development. Although several longitudinal studies have examined the predictors of life satisfaction, this study has several unique strengths. First, it examines hope (i.e., a positive motivation and power for success and happiness) as a possible mediator variable. Second, it separates between-person effects (i.e., people with hope perceive higher life satisfaction than those who are less hope) and within-person effects (i.e., a person with hope perceives higher life satisfaction over time). Participants were 1108 Chinese adolescents aged 14–18 years (M = 15.89, SD = 0.68, 57.7% boys). Multilevel statistical models were used to disaggregate between- and within-person effects. Results showed that teacher–student relationships were positively associated with hope and life satisfaction and that hope was positively associated with life satisfaction. These associations were significant both at one point in time (between-person effect) and over time (within-person effect). Moreover, at both the between- and within-person levels hope was found to be a significant mediator of the association between teacher–student relationships and life satisfaction. That is, within a given individual, a more favorable perceived teacher–student relationship at a given time point was a significant positive predictor of hope for that individual, and in turn, hope was associated with significantly greater life satisfaction at that particular time point. Identification of hope as an explanatory mechanism in the association between teacher–student relationships and life satisfaction in Chinese adolescents provides a potential target for interventions to improve students’ well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Qian Nie & Zhaojun Teng & George G. Bear & Cheng Guo & Yanling Liu & Dajun Zhang, 2019. "Hope as Mediator Between Teacher–Student Relationships and Life Satisfaction Among Chinese Adolescents: A Between- and Within-Person Effects Analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(7), pages 2367-2383, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:20:y:2019:i:7:d:10.1007_s10902-018-0052-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-018-0052-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-018-0052-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10902-018-0052-6?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. Cristina Dumitrache & Gill Windle & Ramona Rubio Herrera, 2015. "Do Social Resources Explain the Relationship Between Optimism and Life Satisfaction in Community-Dwelling Older People? Testing a Multiple Mediation Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 633-654, June.
    2. Feng Kong & Ke Ding & Jingjing Zhao, 2015. "The Relationships Among Gratitude, Self-esteem, Social Support and Life Satisfaction Among Undergraduate Students," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 477-489, April.
    3. Carmel Proctor & P. Linley & John Maltby, 2009. "Youth Life Satisfaction: A Review of the Literature," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(5), pages 583-630, October.
    4. Susana Marques & Shane Lopez & J. Pais-Ribeiro, 2011. "“Building Hope for the Future”: A Program to Foster Strengths in Middle-School Students," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 139-152, March.
    5. Susana Marques & Shane Lopez & Joanna Mitchell, 2013. "The Role of Hope, Spirituality and Religious Practice in Adolescents’ Life Satisfaction: Longitudinal Findings," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 251-261, March.
    6. Ed Diener & Ronald Inglehart & Louis Tay, 2013. "Theory and Validity of Life Satisfaction Scales," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 112(3), pages 497-527, July.
    7. Daniel Shek & Xiang Li, 2016. "Perceived School Performance, Life Satisfaction, and Hopelessness: A 4-Year Longitudinal Study of Adolescents in Hong Kong," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 126(2), pages 921-934, March.
    8. Song, Lina & Appleton, Simon & Knight, John, 2006. "Why Do Girls in Rural China Have Lower School Enrollment?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 1639-1653, September.
    9. Feng Kong & Xuqun You, 2013. "Loneliness and Self-Esteem as Mediators Between Social Support and Life Satisfaction in Late Adolescence," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 110(1), pages 271-279, January.
    10. Shannon Suldo & Jessica Savage & Sterett Mercer, 2014. "Increasing Middle School Students’ Life Satisfaction: Efficacy of a Positive Psychology Group Intervention," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 19-42, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Guangcan Xiang & Zhaojun Teng & Qingqing Li & Hong Chen, 2023. "Self-concept Clarity and Subjective Well-Being: Disentangling Within- and Between-Person Associations," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 1439-1461, April.
    2. Adem Peker & Serkan Cengiz, 2023. "Academic Monitoring and Support from Teachers and School Satisfaction: The Sequential Mediation Effect of Hope and Academic Grit," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(4), pages 1553-1579, August.
    3. Xiaoyu Lan & Chunhua Ma & Yongfeng Ma, 2021. "A Person-Centered Investigation of Adolescent Psychosocial and Academic Adjustment: the Role of Peer Attachment and Zhong-Yong Thinking," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(4), pages 1479-1500, August.
    4. Wenjing Yan & Linting Zhang & Wenjie Li & Feng Kong, 2022. "How is Subjective Family Socioeconomic Status Related to Life Satisfaction in Chinese Adolescents? The Mediating Role of Resilience, Self-Esteem and Hope," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(5), pages 1565-1581, October.
    5. Rui Zhang & Lin-Xin Wang & Jesus Alfonso D. Datu & Yue Liang & Kai Dou & Yan-Gang Nie & Jian-Bin Li, 2023. "High Qualities of Relationships with Parents and Teachers Contribute to the Development of Adolescent Life Satisfaction Through Resilience: A Three-Wave Prospective Longitudinal Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 1339-1365, April.
    6. Xiang, Guangcan & Teng, Zhaojun & Li, Qingqing & Chen, Hong & Guo, Cheng, 2020. "The influence of perceived social support on hope: A longitudinal study of older-aged adolescents in China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).

    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. Xiao Zhou & Rui Zhen & Xinchun Wu, 2019. "Understanding the Relation between Gratitude and Life Satisfaction among Adolescents in a Post-Disaster Context: Mediating Roles of Social Support, Self-Esteem, and Hope," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 12(5), pages 1781-1795, October.
    2. Robert F. Valois & Jelani C. Kerr & Michael P. Carey & Larry K. Brown & Daniel Romer & Ralph J. DiClemente & Peter A. Vanable, 2020. "Neighborhood Stress and Life Satisfaction: Is there a Relationship for African American Adolescents?," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(1), pages 273-296, March.
    3. Sukkyung You & Sun Ah Lim & Eui Kyung Kim, 2018. "Relationships Between Social Support, Internal Assets, and Life Satisfaction in Korean Adolescents," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 897-915, March.
    4. Jacky C. K. Ng & Victor C. Y. Lau & Sylvia Xiahua Chen, 2020. "Why are Dispositional Enviers not Satisfied With Their Lives? An Investigation of Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Pathways Among Adolescents and Young Adults," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 525-545, February.
    5. L. Lambert & H.-A. Passmore & N. Scull & I. Al Sabah & R. Hussain, 2019. "Wellbeing Matters in Kuwait: The Alnowair’s Bareec Education Initiative," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 143(2), pages 741-763, June.
    6. Keith J. Zullig & Robert F. Valois & Gerald R. Hobbs & Jelani C. Kerr & Daniel Romer & Michael P. Carey & Larry K. Brown & Ralph J. DiClemente & Peter A. Vanable, 2020. "Can a Multilevel STI/HIV Prevention Strategy for High Risk African American Adolescents Improve Life Satisfaction?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 417-436, February.
    7. Jayshree Jani & Dawnya Underwood & Jessica Ranweiler, 2016. "Hope as a Crucial Factor in Integration Among Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth in the USA: A Pilot Project," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1195-1209, November.
    8. Yongquan Huo & Feng Kong, 2014. "Moderating Effects of Gender and Loneliness on the Relationship Between Self-esteem and Life Satisfaction in Chinese University Students," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 118(1), pages 305-314, August.
    9. Kathlyn M. Cherry & Brae Anne McArthur & Margaret N. Lumley, 2020. "A Multi-Informant Study of Strengths, Positive Self-Schemas and Subjective Well-Being from Childhood to Adolescence," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(6), pages 2169-2191, August.
    10. Jacqueline Lettau, 2021. "The Impact of Children’s Academic Competencies and School Grades on their Life Satisfaction: What Really Matters?," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(6), pages 2171-2195, December.
    11. R. M. Tomlinson & L. Keyfitz & J. S. Rawana & M. N. Lumley, 2017. "Unique Contributions of Positive Schemas for Understanding Child and Adolescent Life Satisfaction and Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(5), pages 1255-1274, October.
    12. Lina Martinez & Lina Sofia Valenzuela & Victoria Eugenia Soto, 2022. "Well-Being amongst College Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a Developing Country," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-17, December.
    13. Wenjing Yan & Linting Zhang & Wenjie Li & Feng Kong, 2022. "How is Subjective Family Socioeconomic Status Related to Life Satisfaction in Chinese Adolescents? The Mediating Role of Resilience, Self-Esteem and Hope," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(5), pages 1565-1581, October.
    14. Fabienne Wöhner & Axel Franzen, 2024. "The Impact of Answer Scale Orientation on the Measurement of Life Satisfaction," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(6), pages 1-18, August.
    15. Kathleen B. Franke & E. Scott Huebner & Kimberly J. Hills, 2017. "Cross-Sectional and Prospective Associations Between Positive Emotions and General Life Satisfaction in Adolescents," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 1075-1093, August.
    16. Feng Kong & Wenjie Li & Qiuling Wang & Zonglei Zhen, 2023. "Incremental Well-being Beliefs and Well-being in Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Self-esteem and Optimism," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(2), pages 533-549, April.
    17. Daniel T. L. Shek & Lu-Yin Liang, 2018. "Psychosocial Factors Influencing Individual Well-Being in Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong: a Six-Year Longitudinal Study," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(3), pages 561-584, September.
    18. Feng Kong & Kairong Yang & Wenjing Yan & Xuewen Li, 2021. "How Does Trait Gratitude Relate to Subjective Well-Being in Chinese Adolescents? The Mediating Role of Resilience and Social Support," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 1611-1622, April.
    19. Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn & Tim Nash & Natasha Tursi, 2015. "Luxury car owners are not happier than frugal car owners," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 62(2), pages 121-141, June.
    20. Feng Kong & Xinyu Gong & Sonia Sajjad & Kairong Yang & Jingjing Zhao, 2019. "How Is Emotional Intelligence Linked to Life Satisfaction? The Mediating Role of Social Support, Positive Affect and Negative Affect," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(8), pages 2733-2745, December.

    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:spr:jhappi:v:20:y:2019:i:7:d:10.1007_s10902-018-0052-6. 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: http://www.springer.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.