Browsing by Author "Hotti, Riku"

Aims. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the experiences of eighth-grade stu- dents regarding their peer relationships are related to their perceived school satisfaction. The research questions are as follows: How do peer relationships among young people affect their perceived school satisfaction? What qualitative differences exist in young people's peer rela- tionships from the perspective of school satisfaction? By answering these research questions, the aim is to increase awareness of how Finnish eighth-grade students perceive the influence of peer relationships in the context of school satisfaction. The theoretical framework of the thesis is based on the concepts of school satisfaction, adolescence, and peer relationships, providing a deeper understanding of these concepts. This ensures a clearer and more com- prehensible reading experience for the reader. Methods. The thesis was conducted as a qualitative study. The data was collected through individual face-to-face interviews conducted on-site at various schools in the Uusimaa region. The interviews were conducted as semi-structured thematic interviews. The interviews were conducted during the early months of 2024. The selection of interviewees was based on pur- posive sampling to ensure that the study group represented a comprehensive sample of eighth-grade students. The interview data was transcribed, and the responses were analyzed by categorizing them into the same thematic areas. Results and conclusions. The results of the study clearly indicated that positive peer relationships had a significant impact on students' willingness to participate in schoolwork. When young people feel they are in good interaction with their peer group, their motivation for school attendance increases. Especially shared interests and hobbies positively influenced relationships among young people and promoted school satisfaction. Furthermore, positive events, such as sports competitions and other shared activities, strengthened peer relationships and created a positive atmosphere at school. On the other hand, negative experiences, such as conflicts and discrimination, weakened school satisfaction and affected students' attitudes toward school attendance.