South Island School: Parents’ Perceptions of School Counselling Services

Information about the study

TITLE

Influence of cultural and institutional factors on parents’ perceptions of school counselling in Southeast Asia

PURPOSE

You are invited to participate in a project conducted by Dr Mark Harrison (Hong Kong Shue Yan University).
The aim of this research project is to investigate the relationship between cultural and institutional factors on parents’ perceptions of school counselling. You have been asked to participate in this research project because you are the parent of a child attending a school which provides a school counselling service.

PROCEDURES

If you decide to participate in the study, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire, taking around 15 minutes. Around 400 participants will be recruited across several countries in Southeast Asia.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS

Through participating, you will be contributing to research which may benefit school counsellors, parents, and young people, though there may be no direct benefit to yourself.

POTENTIAL RISKS / DISCOMFORTS AND THEIR MINIMIZATION

There are no risks or discomforts to you by participating in this research.

PARTICIPATION AND WITHDRAWAL

Your participation in the project is voluntary.
You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without negative consequences.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Responses to the survey are strictly confidential.
No directly identifiable information will be collected.
We will collect some demographic information such as age, gender, and ethnicity
The results of the research may be presented in one or more published articles, but no participants’ identity will be discernable in any publication.

DATA RETENTION

Data will be retained for three years after publication of a first article.

QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS

If you would like to obtain more information about this study, please contact Dr Mark Harrison (mgharrison@hksyu.edu). If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research study, please do not hesitate to contact the Human Research Ethics Committee by email at ro@hksyu.edu.

DISCLAIMER

The data collected and analyzed in this project is intended for research purposes only. While the principal investigator takes necessary precautions to ensure the security and confidentiality of the data, Hong Kong Shue Yan University and the research team cannot guarantee or be held liable for any unauthorized access or misuse of the data by third parties.

Thank you for your interest in participating in this study.

Dr Mark Harrison

Principal investigator

Child 1
Child 1
Child 2
Child 2
Child 3
Child 3
Child 4
Child 4
Other(s)
Other(s)

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Moderate	Agree	Strongly Agree
1. I am concerned that my child’s academic attainment may be negatively impacted if they see a counsellor at their school.
1. I am concerned that my child’s academic attainment may be negatively impacted if they see a counsellor at their school.
2. I would feel shame or embarrassment if other parents knew my child was seeing a counsellor at their school.
2. I would feel shame or embarrassment if other parents knew my child was seeing a counsellor at their school.
3. I am concerned that my child’s future success may be negatively impacted if they see a counsellor at their school.
3. I am concerned that my child’s future success may be negatively impacted if they see a counsellor at their school.
4. I would feel less competent as a parent if my child approached a school counsellor to discuss their problems.
4. I would feel less competent as a parent if my child approached a school counsellor to discuss their problems.
5. I would be more comfortable if my child saw a counsellor outside of their school than in school.
5. I would be more comfortable if my child saw a counsellor outside of their school than in school.
6. I would expect my child’s school counsellor to communicate with me about my child’s mental health issues.
6. I would expect my child’s school counsellor to communicate with me about my child’s mental health issues.
7. I would be willing to meet a school counsellor with my child if I were asked.
7. I would be willing to meet a school counsellor with my child if I were asked.
8. I believe that school counselling is supportive of my child’s mental health.
8. I believe that school counselling is supportive of my child’s mental health.
9. I believe that school counselling can benefit my child academically.
9. I believe that school counselling can benefit my child academically.
10. I understand the differences between the services provided by counsellors, social workers and psychologists.
10. I understand the differences between the services provided by counsellors, social workers and psychologists.
11. I am supportive of my child seeing a school counsellor without my consent.
11. I am supportive of my child seeing a school counsellor without my consent.
12. I would be happy for my child to disclose personal information about our family to a school counsellor.
12. I would be happy for my child to disclose personal information about our family to a school counsellor.
13. I am supportive of my child seeking help from a mental health professional (such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist or counsellor).
13. I am supportive of my child seeking help from a mental health professional (such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist or counsellor).

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Moderate	Agree	Strongly Agree
1. If I thought I was having a mental breakdown, my first thought would be to get professional attention.
1. If I thought I was having a mental breakdown, my first thought would be to get professional attention.
2. Talking about problems with a psychologist seems to me as a poor way to get rid of emotional problems.
2. Talking about problems with a psychologist seems to me as a poor way to get rid of emotional problems.
3. If I were experiencing a serious emotional crisis, I would be sure that psychotherapy would be useful.
3. If I were experiencing a serious emotional crisis, I would be sure that psychotherapy would be useful.
4. I admire people who are willing to cope with their problems and fears without seeking professional help.
4. I admire people who are willing to cope with their problems and fears without seeking professional help.
5. I would want to get psychological help if I were worried or upset for a long period of time.
5. I would want to get psychological help if I were worried or upset for a long period of time.
6. I might want to have psychological counselling in the future.
6. I might want to have psychological counselling in the future.
7. A person with an emotional problem is not likely to solve it alone; he or she is more likely to solve it with professional help.
7. A person with an emotional problem is not likely to solve it alone; he or she is more likely to solve it with professional help.
8. Given the amount of time and money involved in psychotherapy, I am not sure that it would benefit someone like me.
8. Given the amount of time and money involved in psychotherapy, I am not sure that it would benefit someone like me.
9. People should solve their own problems, therefore, getting psychological counselling would be their last resort.
9. People should solve their own problems, therefore, getting psychological counselling would be their last resort.
10. Personal and emotional troubles, like most things in life, tend to work out by themselves.
10. Personal and emotional troubles, like most things in life, tend to work out by themselves.

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Moderate	Agree	Strongly Agree
1. Teachers treat students of all races with respect.
1. Teachers treat students of all races with respect.
2. Teachers care about their students.
2. Teachers care about their students.
3. Teachers listen to students when they have problems.
3. Teachers listen to students when they have problems.
4. Adults who work there care about the students.
4. Adults who work there care about the students.
5. Teachers like their students.
5. Teachers like their students.
6. Teachers listen to the concerns of parents.
6. Teachers listen to the concerns of parents.
7. Teachers show respect toward parents.
7. Teachers show respect toward parents.
8. Teachers work closely with parents to help students when they have problems.
8. Teachers work closely with parents to help students when they have problems.
9. Teachers do a good job communicating with parents.
9. Teachers do a good job communicating with parents.

	At no time	Some of the time	Less than half of the time	More than half of the time	Most of the time	All of the time
1. I have felt cheerful and in good spirits
1. I have felt cheerful and in good spirits
2. I have felt calm and relaxed
2. I have felt calm and relaxed
3. I have felt active and vigorous
3. I have felt active and vigorous
4. I woke up feeling fresh and rested
4. I woke up feeling fresh and rested
5. My daily life has been filled with things that interest me
5. My daily life has been filled with things that interest me