Values and Wellness as Related to a Positive School Orientation Among Japanese Adolescents

The relationship between positive school orientation and the psychological factors of values and wellness were examined in a sample of 319 Japanese middle school students. Participants’ perceptions of wellness were consistently related to a reported sense of school bonding, but not necessarily to attendance or participation in extracurricular activities. The relationship between values and positive school orientation was less clear; values appeared to be more aligned with voluntary actions such as participation in extracurricular activities. Gender differences in student values were noted in that males placed more emphasis on extracurricular activities, while females placed more emphasis on attendance. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.