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://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/the-impending-transition-from-primary-to-secondary-school-challenge-or-threat(e57391bf-dd10-41ad-ab9a-03f6f7cb54d6).html