Dynamic changing process of hope in early adolescence: Analysis of individual differences during the transition from elementary school to junior high school

Abstract

This study investigated the individual difference in trajectories of hope during the transition from elementary school to junior high school using seven waves of longitudinal data. The findings using 157 students from fifth to eighth grade showed there was a clear decrease in hope for the future for boys and girls, and also six different trajectories of hope for the future were found by cluster analyses. In contrast, a comparison between before and after transition using 755 students suggested hope for the future didn't change, but cluster analyses yielded six different fluctuations of hope for the future, which was similar to the results of the first analysis. In addition, the types with increment in hope showed an increase in self-esteem and peer support, whereas the types with decrement in hope showed a decrease in self-esteem and there was no difference in academic achievement between those types. Finally, the findings were discussed in terms of the importance of considering individual differences in hope to gain a better understanding of the developmental meaning of the transition from elementary school to junior high school. © 2012 Japanese Psychological Association.