EdUHK Research Reveals that Spiritual Health is Key to Promoting School Engagement
EdUHK Research Reveals that Spiritual Health is Key to Promoting School Engagement
In a study recently conducted by The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), local Chinese students scored below average in the spirituality aspect of spiritual health. Moreover, Hong Kong mainstream Chinese students (HKMCS) reported lower levels of school engagement than Chinese immigrant students (CIS) and cross-boundary students (CBS). The research team thus recommends that spiritual health be incorporated into the core curriculum to enhance the development of positive values among students.
Under the leadership of Dr Celeste Yuen Yuet-mui, Associate Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Education Policy and Leadership (EPL) at EdUHK, the study was supported by the General Research Fund. A questionnaire survey of over 14,000 students was conducted at 30 local secondary schools between April 2015 and March 2016. Among the students, 80% were HKMCS, 15% were CIS and 5% were CBS.
HKMCS scored an average of 3.68 on a 6-point Likert scale in overall spiritual health, which comprised spiritual, physical, psychological and social aspects. However, in terms of spirituality alone, they only scored 2.28. Both CIS and CBS reported even lower levels, at only 1.93 and 1.94 respectively. This suggests that all three groups are not accustomed to finding relief from “the Divine” when they have problems and/or challenges in life. Furthermore, HKMCS scored lower in the physical (e.g. I have regular eating habits) and psychological (e.g. I am generally happy) aspects than did CIS and CBS (Table 1).
Table 1: Self-ratings of spiritual health
6-point Likert Scale | Spiritual (A) | Physical (B) | Psychological (C) | Social (D) | Spiritual health (A-D) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HKMCS | 2.28 | 4.17 | 4.20 | 4.09 | 3.68 |
CIS | 1.93 | 4.25 | 4.31 | 4.04 | 3.63 |
CBS | 1.94 | 4.29 | 4.35 | 4.14 | 3.68 |
In terms of school engagement, HKMCS scored significantly lower than CBS across parental care, peer support, teachers’ care and support, and self-efficacy. Surprisingly, in terms of parental support there was no difference between HKMCS and CIS. However, HKMCS scored significantly lower than CIS across all other elements of school engagement. It is noteworthy that all three student groups rated parental care the lowest.
In response to the item of “my parents offer homework help/arrange private tuition for me”, HKMCS scored highest (2.92 out of 6) as compared to CIS (2.47) and CBS (2.91). These low ratings suggest that there was a noticeable gap between the expectations of students and their parents in terms of supporting their studies and future career development (see Tables 2 and 3).
Table 2: Self-ratings of school engagement
| Parental Care (A) | Peer Support (B) | Teachers’ Care and Support (C) | Self-efficacy (D) | School Engagement (A-D) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HKMCS | 3.44 | 4.28 | 4.03 | 4.05 | 3.95 |
CIS | 3.44 | 4.31 | 4.24 | 4.18 | 4.04 |
CBS | 3.61 | 4.46 | 4.32 | 4.24 | 4.15 |
Table 3: Self-ratings of Parental Care
Talk to me about my school life (A) | Offer homework help / arrange private tuition (B) | Care about my future career (C) | Attend meetings and activities of my school (D) | Parental care (A-D) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HKMCS | 3.56 | 2.92 | 4.35 | 2.96 | 3.44 |
CIS | 3.49 | 2.47 | 4.50 | 3.28 | 3.44 |
CBS | 3.72 | 2.91 | 4.55 | 3.26 | 3.61 |
Additionally, both CBS (77%) and CIS (77%) had higher aspirations for pursuing university education than HKMCS (69%). Regarding future careers, nearly 60% of the parents of the two non-local groups expected them to become professionals as compared to 51% of the parents of HKMCS. These findings highlight the fact that HKMCS are not as positive and ambitious as CBS and CIS in relation to their future education and career advancement.
The research team also points out that spiritual health had a direct and significant impact on school engagement among the three groups of students (coefficient 0.87). Study leader Dr Yuen suggests that spiritual health is the foundation of wellness and that it promotes positive attitudes towards life. It also releases students’ potential to face life challenges. She points out that there have been several student suicidal cases recently, which could be seen as signs of a broader spiritual problem. Faced by unprecedented challenges in a rapidly changing society with pluralistic social values, political differences and diverse family backgrounds, Hong Kong youth have a strong sense of helplessness. Dr Yuen argues that spiritual development is a highly effective safety net. It can facilitate students’ positive thinking, ascribe meaning to life and inspire students towards their full potential in learning and serving. Hence, spiritual health is the backbone of holistic education and should be incorporated into the formal curriculum.
Appendix: Research findings (Chinese only)
