Parents' social capital in supporting student psychological well-being within elite SPK boarding schools

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the role of collective social capital in the "Parents Club" forum as a strategy to strengthen resilience and Psychological Well-being of students at Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama boarding school. Given the high academic pressure of the international curriculum and the challenges of adapting to boarding environment, this study employed a descriptive qualitative design to explore the dynamics of parental support in depth. Data were collected through Focus Group Discussion with students for problem mapping and an online qualitative survey with parents selected through the purposive sampling technique. Data validity was ensured through source triangulation, while data analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke's six-step thematic analysis. The research findings indicate that the "Parents Club" has a vital dual function: as a bonding social capital, which provides an emotional safety net and stress normalization for parents, as well as bridging social capital that facilitates advocacy for school policies that are more oriented towards student well-being. This study concludes that transforming parental participation from an individualistic approach to collaboration is a key strategy in creating an elite educational ecosystem that supports student mental health sustainably. Unlike past research focusing on isolated parental involvement or public schools, this study examines collective, institutionalized social capital within elite boarding environments. Theoretically, it extends social capital literature by revealing its dual-function mechanism in mitigating burnout, filling a gap regarding parental involvement and student well-being in international boarding contexts. Practically, it provides school administrators with a transferable model for structured parental engagement programs.