Factors Determining Student Discipline: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Student discipline is a crucial component of educational success, yet findings across studies regarding its determining factors remain varied, necessitating a systematic synthesis. This study aims to identify the determinant factors influencing student discipline and examine the contribution of both internal and external factors through a PRISMA-guided Systematic Literature Review (SLR). The search process was conducted via Google Scholar and national academic databases using discipline-related keywords, yielding 1,180 identified studies, 150 screened, 54 full-text articles assessed, and 6 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The results indicate that student discipline is shaped by internal factors such as motivation, ethics and character, self-awareness, and self-regulation, while external factors include the clarity and consistency of school rules, reward–punishment systems, parental support, and the social environment at school. Clear and consistent rules were found to significantly contribute to disciplinary behavior, whereas motivation and self-regulation played essential roles in sustaining long-term discipline. It is concluded that student discipline results from the interaction between internal and external factors; therefore, effective discipline strategies should integrate character development and self-regulation with consistent rule enforcement and family involvement.