The developmental context of school satisfaction: Schools as psychologically healthy environments.

A positive psychology perspective on school psychology challenges us to think critically about the degree to which schools and schooling processes support children’s optimum adjustment. We argue that schools contribute to a student’s positive adjustment when they function as psychologically healthy environments for development. In this narrative review, we examine contemporary perspectives on positive adjustment in children and propose a developmental-ecological perspective as one theoretical lens through which to view positive school adjustment. We will critique the empirical literature on contextual factors contributing to school satisfaction, one marker of positive school adjustment. Finally, we will make recommendations for practice and research in this area.