The negative association of perceived stress with adolescents’ life satisfaction during the pandemic period: The moderating role of school community support

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the association of perceived stress on the life satisfaction of Chilean adolescents during the recent pandemic, and to evaluate the moderating role that school community support provides. Methods: A total of 1337 adolescents in Chile (56.6% females), aged 14 through 19 (M = 15.99; SD = 1.3) participated. Descriptive statistics, a multiple linear regression model, and moderation analysis were all employed. Results: Females were associated with lower levels of Life Satisfaction (B = −0.19, p = .042), which was not the case for the Age variable (p = .160). The level of Perceived Stress was shown to have a negative association on Life Satisfaction (B = −1.93, p < .001). The moderation analysis revealed an interaction factor between Perceived Stress and School Community Support as predictors of Life Satisfaction (B = 0.37, t = 4.91, p < .001), showing that higher levels of School Community Support moderated the negative effect of Perceived Stress on Life Satisfaction. Conclusions: Perceived stress during the pandemic had a negative association on life satisfaction. School community support was a protective factor for this negative effect, even in the case of online classes due to school closures. Strengthening the connection between adolescents and their school communities along with providing additional tools and resources in support of such a connection are both essential.

Keywords

• Adolescence
• Wellbeing
• Life satisfaction
• Perceived stress
• School support
• COVID-19