Individual Adjustment to School Transitions: An Exploration of the Role of Supportive Peer Relations

Abstract

Previous research has shown that the transition into junior high school can be difficult for certain subgroups, particularly girls. Recent work has also examined the social support roles played by best friends during the transition and found that high quality friendships can ease the adjustment to the new environment. The present longitudinal study of 410 students in a middle class suburban school district looked at adjustment to junior high school as a function of the quantity, frequency of contact, and intimacy of same-sex and opposite-sex peer relationships at school and with peers attending other schools. Adjustment to the new school at seventh grade was defined in terms of changes from sixth grade in self-esteem, participation in school and nonschool activities, and perceived integration (or, conversely, anonymity) in the school environment. Overall, a significant decrease in the perception of being integrated into the school was found for both males and females but only small, nonsignificant changes in self-esteem and participation were evidenced. In order to test for relationships between school adjustment and social relations, only two extreme groups were examined, representing good adjusters (Gainers) and poor adjusters (Decliners). Results showed significant group-by-sex-of-subject interaction effects for self-esteem on most frequency and intimacy measures. In particular, males who had gained in self-esteem had more frequent peer contacts and were somewhat more intimate with peers than were males who declined. For females, however, results were in the opposite direction. Few consistent results were found for adjustment in terms of participation or perceived integration.