Impact of perceived discrimination on students’ behavioural changes: Role of cultural background and societal influence

Volume 1, Issue 2 (Jul-Sep 2025)

Authors: Somasundar M.

DOI: doi.org/10.64848/WMJ.1.2.2025.51-58

Page No: 51-58

Keywords: Cultural background, Family background, Perceived discrimination, Societal influence, Students’ behavioural changes

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Abstract

Student behaviour is substantially influenced by discrimination in educational settings. The specific impact of teacher discrimination on students’ behavioural shifts remains underexplored despite it being increasingly acknowledged in research. The present study used the Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory (PVEST) to examine students’ behavioural changes being influenced by their perceptions of teacher discrimination and whether this relationship is affected by societal and cultural factors. Questionnaires were used for a survey in rural and urban areas in Krishnagiri district Tamil Nadu, India, and subsequently gather data from 215 students studying in grades 8 to 10. The data was analysed via partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). It was found that students’ behaviour was significantly influenced by their perceptions of teacher discrimination based on caste, creed and socioeconomic status. Societal influence did not significantly influence the impact of perceived discrimination on behavioural changes, whereas cultural background played a vital role in moderating this relationship.