Exploring the life satisfaction of minority/immigrant adolescents admitting to schools with high co-ethnic concentration

This study explores the life satisfaction of different student groups in schools with high ethnic concentration using the Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS). The sample comprised 1,522 students aged between 12 and 20 in four Hong Kong schools. Significant student group differences in life satisfaction were noted. All South Asian students showed relatively greater life satisfaction than their Chinese counterparts across the five domains of MSLSS. Findings also reveal a positive influence of school effect on South Asian students, whereas the opposite appears to be true for mainland Chinese immigrant and Hong Kong-born Chinese students. Conversely, Hong Kong mainstream students reported the lowest scores, particularly in the school domain. These results and implications for educational policy will be discussed.