Loving lunch in junior high: Lunchtime activities and a sense of belonging in school. Issue 7 (2nd February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Whiting, Erin Feinauer; Hinton, Anna E.; Jensen, Bryant
• Is Part Of: Journal of community psychology. Volume 50:Issue 7(2022)
• Page Start: 2973
• Page End: 2992
• Publication Date: 2022-02-02
• Subjects: cluster analysis -- junior high school -- logistic regression -- love of lunch -- lunch activities -- lunchtime -- sense of belonging; Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; Social psychiatry -- Periodicals; Community Mental Health Services -- Periodicals; 362.2205
• DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22809
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0090-4392

Abstract

Abstract: We explore student lunchtime experiences as they relate to student sense of belonging. We use SPSS Two‐Step cluster analysis and logistic regression of data from a schoolwide survey ( n = 830) in the United States. Stepwise modeling is used to determine the importance of clusters representing lunchtime activity preferences and love of lunch on belonging scores. Loving lunch significantly positively affects school belonging. Students naturally group into five distinct different activity profiles based on lunchtime preferences. These profiles are significantly related to a sense of belonging. Being active with peers during lunch was most strongly correlated with sense of belonging. Lunchtime warrants more attention for fostering a sense of belonging in the school community. Broadening lunchtime activity options, especially in schools where there are few available ways for socializing and being active, has the potential to support the diverse needs of students and increase belonging.