Beyond Academic Performance: An Investigation of Well-Being among Vocational and General High School Student

IF 2.5 3区社会学 Q1 SOCIAL SCIENCES, INTERDISCIPLINARY

Applied Research in Quality of Life Pub Date : 2025-07-17 DOI:10.1007/s11482-025-10487-1

Li Zheng, Shiqian Huang

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Abstract

This study utilizes data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018, focusing on a sample of Chinese students, to investigate disparities in well-being (eudemonia and positive affect) between vocational and general high school students. Utilizing regression model, Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM), Inverse Probability Weighting (IPW), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this study examines the impact of school type while addressing endogeneity and testing robustness. Results of regression model indicate that general high school students report significantly lower eudemonia (β = -.181, p < .001) and positive affect (β = -.090, p < .001) compared to vocational high school students. The study employs CEM and IPW to address endogeneity and selection bias, and the findings remain robust. SEM further revealed that school type directly reduced well-being while highlighting competitiveness as a mediating factor, partially offsetting the negative impact of school type through positive indirect effects. Collectively, results underscore that general high school students experience diminished well-being relative to vocational peers, with systemic academic pressures and social dynamics contributing to these disparities. The findings advocate for holistic educational reforms prioritizing student well-being.

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超越学业成绩：职高与普通高中学生幸福感调查

本研究利用2018年国际学生评估项目（PISA）的数据，以中国学生为样本，调查职业高中和普通高中学生在幸福感（幸福感和积极影响）方面的差异。利用回归模型、粗化精确匹配（CEM）、逆概率加权（IPW）和结构方程模型（SEM），本研究考察了学校类型的影响，同时解决了内生性问题并检验了稳健性。回归模型结果显示，普通高中学生的幸福感显著低于普通高中学生（β = - 0.181, p <）。001)和积极影响(β = - 0.090, p <；001)与职业高中学生相比。该研究采用CEM和IPW来解决内生性和选择偏差，研究结果仍然稳健。SEM进一步发现，学校类型直接降低幸福感，同时突出竞争力作为中介因素，通过积极的间接效应部分抵消学校类型的负面影响。总的来说，结果强调了普通高中生相对于职业同龄人的幸福感下降，系统性的学业压力和社会动态导致了这些差异。研究结果提倡全面的教育改革，优先考虑学生的福祉。

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来源期刊

Applied Research in Quality of Life SOCIAL SCIENCES, INTERDISCIPLINARY-

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

11.80%

发文量

期刊介绍： The aim of this journal is to publish conceptual, methodological and empirical papers dealing with quality-of-life studies in the applied areas of the natural and social sciences. As the official journal of the ISQOLS, it is designed to attract papers that have direct implications for, or impact on practical applications of research on the quality-of-life. We welcome papers crafted from interdisciplinary, inter-professional and international perspectives. This research should guide decision making in a variety of professions, industries, nonprofit, and government sectors, including healthcare, travel and tourism, marketing, corporate management, community planning, social work, public administration, and human resource management. The goal is to help decision makers apply performance measures and outcome assessment techniques based on concepts such as well-being, human satisfaction, human development, happiness, wellness and quality-of-life. The Editorial Review Board is divided into specific sections indicating the broad scope of practice covered by the journal. The section editors are distinguished scholars from many countries across the globe.