The impending transition from primary to secondary school: Challenge or threat?

Author(s)

Ulrike Sirsch

Abstract

For many children the transition from primary to secondary school is an important event in life. Little is known about children's concerns and expectations about the new school prior to this transition. Therefore, the present study, which is part of the Vienna School Transition Study (VSTS), investigated this subject. Children (N = 856) were asked to appraise the transition to secondary school, which was perceived as a challenge and a threat (in terms of transactional stress theory, e.g., Lazarus & Folkman, 1984, 1987). For this purpose a new questionnaire was developed. It was assumed that children would differentiate between the perceived challenge concerning academic achievement and the new social environment, and the perceived threat in the same terms. Results support this assumption. In addition, aspects of self-concept, anxiety, predictability, and academic achievement in primary school were found to be predictors of the perceived threat (with regard to the transition to secondary school) as predicted by theory.

Organisation(s)

Journal

International Journal of Behavioral Development

Volume

27

Pages

385-395

No. of pages

11

ISSN

0165-0254

Publication date

2003

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

5010 Psychology

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/e57391bf-dd10-41ad-ab9a-03f6f7cb54d6