<![CDATA[Purpose: This study examined the relationship between social interaction in an Islamic boarding school environment and students’ independent character at Modern Darussalam Koto Anau Islamic Boarding School, Solok Regency, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Method: The study used a quantitative cross-sectional correlational design. The population comprised all 46 students enrolled in grades 1 to 6 of Kulliyatul Mu’allimin al-Islamiyah, and all eligible students were included through total-enumeration sampling. Data were collected using Likert-type self-report questionnaires measuring social interaction and independent character, supported by institutional documentation used to confirm enrolment and eligibility. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. Main Findings: Social-interaction scores ranged from 21 to 60, with a mean of 42.35 and a standard deviation of 9.53. Independent-character scores ranged from 12 to 40, with a mean of 26.41 and a standard deviation of 6.30. The regression model was statistically significant, F(1, 44) = 140.485, p < .001. Social interaction was positively associated with independent character (B = 0.577), and the model reported R² = .761. Novelty/Originality: This study provides institution-specific evidence from a modern Indonesian pesantren by examining social interaction as a residential-school contextual factor associated with independent character within Indonesian residential education settings. Contribution: The findings extend discussion of pesantren beyond religious and academic instruction by highlighting the potential developmental relevance of daily interactions among students, teachers, and peers. They also support sociocultural interpretations of learning and personal development through social participation. However, the cross-sectional design does not establish causality. Future multicentre longitudinal studies using validated multidimensional measures and multiple data sources are needed to clarify directionality, mechanisms, and generalizability.]]>
