Linking life satisfaction with school engagement of secondary students from diverse cultural backgrounds in Hong Kong

• Life satisfaction is highly linked with school engagement among the student groups.
• South Asian students reported high life satisfaction and school engagement.
• Chinese immigrant students rated lowest in well-being and school engagement.
• Religious belief is a strong predictor for South Asians life satisfaction.
• Girls are more satisfied and engaged with school than boys.

The present study examines the association of life satisfaction with school engagement in relation to gender, grade level, family income, parental education and religious affiliation. A sample of 5809 adolescents aged 12 to 19 with diverse cultural backgrounds was tested with the Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS) and School Engagement Questionnaires. ANOVA results confirm that significant differences exist in both measurements among the four student groups: Hong Kong mainstream students (HKMS), South Asian Students (SAS), Chinese Immigrant Students (CIS), and Cross-Boundary Students (CBS) from Mainland China. Regression analyses reveal that life satisfaction is a significant predictor of school engagement across the four student groups. Results of the correlation and regression analyses support that life satisfaction is positively linked with their school engagement. Additionally, religion is found to be a particular salient predictor for the life satisfaction of SAS while the family income and parental education are vital for both HKMS and CIS. However, neither religion nor family factors are significant predicators for CBS.