Psychosocial school environment, satisfaction with school, and health complaints among Japanese high school students

This study aims to examine how students' perception of psychosocial school environment is associated with satisfaction with school and health complaints among Japanese high school students. A self-administered questionnaire was conducted with 2,852 students at 25 public high schools in Okinawa, Japan. The psychosocial school environment was measured by demands (unrealistic expectations), student autonomy and control (justice of the rules and participation in school activities), and support from teachers and students. Students who perceived high demands, low control, and low support reported the highest health complaints, whereas students who perceived low demands, high control, and high support showed the lowest complaints. Each demand-control combination with low support was more likely to have health complaints than those with high support. The high demands, high control, and high support group reported the highest satisfaction, whereas the low demands, low control, and low support group showed the lowest satisfaction. Each demand-control combination with low support had less satisfaction with school than those with high support. This study suggests that interventions which improve the psychosocial school environment are needed in order to promote school-related health.