Students’ Perceptions of Factors Contributing to a Happy School Environment in Iran

School is not only a place for acquiring academic skills but also a social environment where students develop emotional abilities and awareness. Prioritizing well-being in schools can foster confidence, satisfaction, and emotional awareness among students, contributing to their lifelong success and mental health.

This research hypothesizes that students will emphasize the importance of individual choice, autonomy, and enjoyment in school, along with a desire for more meaningful activities beyond academics. The study aims to investigate adolescents' perceptions of a happy school and the strategies they believe are effective for fostering this environment.

Employing a purposive sampling approach, the researchers conducted indepth, semi-structured qualitative interviews involving 41 middle and high school students in Iran to explore their perspectives on the factors contributing to their happiness within an educational setting. Through phenomenological data analysis, four principal themes and thirteen subcategories emerged.

The main themesincluded: (1) Enhancing overall health; (2) Creating schools with collaborative decisionmaking;(3) Fostering a love of learning; (4) Supporting joy and well-being in school.

The identified themes provide new, valuable insights for improvingschool climate, particularly in relation to student happiness and promoting positivemental health and optimal performance among students.