Hostel Foods and Human Needs: A Maslovian Analysis of Motivation in Islamic Boarding Schools

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of hostel food provision on student motivation and psychological well-being through the lens of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Islamic character nurturing (tarbiyah). Using a descriptive-correlational design, data were collected from 116 male students in Bangladeshi Islamic boarding schools (madrasahs). The research examined the relationship between food satisfaction, socioeconomic background, and the progression toward higher-level psychological needs such as self-actualization. Findings revealed a significant positive correlation between food satisfaction and the fulfillment of physiological needs (r = .333), though the moderate strength suggests that spiritual framing—specifically the virtues of patience (sabr) and gratitude (shukr)—acts as a critical psychological buffer. Notably, an independent samples t-test indicated that students from non-affluent backgrounds reported significantly higher motivation levels (M = 3.92) compared to their affluent peers (M = 3.65), suggesting a "contrast effect" during the transition to modest hostel life. Furthermore, regression analysis confirmed that perceiving food simplicity as a moral exercise significantly predicts progression to higher-order Maslowian needs (R² = .281) and strongly correlates with self-discipline (r = .573). The study concludes that while nutritional adequacy is foundational, the intentional integration of "spiritual simplicity" into food management serves as a proactive tool for character development and academic motivation.