Positive Teaching and School Wellbeing among Students
Keywords:
Positive Teaching, School Wellbeing, StudentsAbstract
The present study explores the role of positive teaching practices in promoting school wellbeing among students using a qualitative research approach. Guided by principles of positive psychology, the study aimed to understand students’ lived experiences of supportive teaching behaviors and their influence on emotional, social, and psychological wellbeing within the school environment. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with purposively selected students and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that positive teaching contributes to school wellbeing through supportive teacher–student relationships, encouragement and constructive feedback, safe and inclusive classroom environments, enhanced student engagement, and reduced academic stress. Students reported greater feelings of belonging, motivation, emotional security, and enjoyment of learning when teachers demonstrated empathy, fairness, and positive reinforcement. Overall, the study highlights positive teaching as a critical factor in fostering holistic school wellbeing and underscores the importance of integrating wellbeing-focused practices into everyday educational settings to support students’ psychological flourishing alongside academic development.
References
Aldrup, K., Klusmann, U., Lüdtke, O., Göllner, R., & Trautwein, U. (2018). Student misbehavior and teacher well-being: Testing the mediating role of the teacher–student relationship. Learning and Instruction, 58, 126–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2018.05.006
Kern, M. L., Waters, L. E., Adler, A., & White, M. A. (2015). A multidimensional approach to measuring wellbeing in students: Application of the PERMA framework. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(3), 262–271. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2014.936962
Konu, A., & Rimpelä, M. (2002). Well-being in schools: A conceptual model. Health Promotion International, 17(1), 79–87. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/17.1.79
OECD. (2017). Students’ well-being: PISA 2015 results (Volume III). OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264273856-en
Quin, D., Heerde, J. A., & Toumbourou, J. W. (2017). Teacher support within an ecological model of adolescent development: Predictors of school engagement. Journal of School Psychology, 62, 119–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2017.01.003
Seligman, M. E. P., Ernst, R. M., Gillham, J., Reivich, K., & Linkins, M. (2009). Positive education: Positive psychology and classroom interventions. Oxford Review of Education, 35(3), 293–311. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054980902934563
Seligman, M. E. P., Ernst, R. M., Gillham, J., Reivich, K., & Linkins, M. (2009). Positive education: Positive psychology and classroom interventions. Oxford Review of Education, 35(3), 293–311. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054980902934563
Suldo, S. M., Shaffer, E. J., & Riley, K. N. (2009). A social–cognitive–behavioral model of academic predictors of adolescents’ life satisfaction. School Psychology Quarterly, 24(1), 56–69. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014953
Waters, L. (2011). A review of school-based positive psychology interventions. The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 28(2), 75–90. https://doi.org/10.1375/aedp.28.2.75
Wentzel, K. R. (2012). Teacher–student relationships and adolescent competence at school. Educational Psychologist, 47(1), 49–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2011.587829
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Pakistan Journal of Positive Psychology

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
