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Trajectories of Students’ School Climate Dimensions throughout Middle School Transition: A Longitudinal Study

Author

Listed:
  • Vítor Alexandre Coelho

    (Académico de Torres Vedras
    Universidade Lusíada Norte)

  • Ana Maria Romão

    (Académico de Torres Vedras)

  • Patrícia Brás

    (Académico de Torres Vedras)

  • George Bear

    (University of Delaware)

  • Ana Prioste

    (Universidade de Lisboa
    Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias)

Abstract

In Portugal, transition from elementary to middle school occurs after the fourth grade, which is much earlier than in most other countries. The impact of early transition to middle school on students’ perceptions of school climate is unknown and was a focus of this study. To investigate this issue we conducted two studies. Study 1 served to provide evidence of the validity scores on the Delaware School Climate Survey - Students (DSCS-S), which was the instrument used in second study. Study 2 analyzed the impact of middle school transition on students’ perceptions of school climate, with gender and class size used as moderating variables. The sample in Study 1 consisted of 895 students (49.9% girls; Mage = 11.36, SD = 1.79) from the 4th to the 8th grade, whereas the sample in Study 2 consisted of 313 4th grade students (50.5% girls; Mage = 9.22, SD = 0.69). Results of confirmatory factor analysis conducted in Study 1 supported the predicted bifactor model of scores on the Portuguese version of the DSCS-S. Results of Study 2 showed a negative impact of the transition on school climate, with a decline in all five dimensions assessed. Boys had steeper declines than girls in fairness of rules, school liking, and teacher-student relationships. Students from larger 4th grade classes displayed a more positive trajectory in student-student relationships during middle school transition than students from smaller 4th grade classes. Future studies should analyze how school climate dimensions evolve throughout middle school.

Suggested Citation

  • Vítor Alexandre Coelho & Ana Maria Romão & Patrícia Brás & George Bear & Ana Prioste, 2020. "Trajectories of Students’ School Climate Dimensions throughout Middle School Transition: A Longitudinal Study," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(1), pages 175-192, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:chinre:v:13:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s12187-019-09674-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s12187-019-09674-y
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. José Luis Gálvez-Nieto & Karina Polanco-Levicán & Ítalo Trizano-Hermosilla & Juan Carlos Beltrán-Véliz, 2022. "Relationships between School Climate and Values: The Mediating Role of Attitudes towards Authority in Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Bacon, Victoria R. & Kearney, Christopher A., 2020. "School climate and student-based contextual learning factors as predictors of school absenteeism severity at multiple levels via CHAID analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    3. Zhao, Zhanfeng & Liu, Guangzeng & Nie, Qian & Teng, Zhaojun & Cheng, Gang & Zhang, Dajun, 2021. "School climate and bullying victimization among adolescents: A moderated mediation model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).

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