Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2025

A Cross-Disciplinary and Multi-Modal Experimental Design for Studying Near-Real-Time Authentic Examination Experiences
Published on: September 4, 2019
Social-emotional competencies and psychological well-being across secondary school transition
Christopher Shum1,2,3, Samantha Dockray4, Stephen Gallagher1,3
1Department of Psychology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Abstract:
This study profiled the association between social-emotional competencies, psychological well-being (PWB), and secondary/middle school transition. Analysis drew from 233 sixth-class/sixth-grade students aged 11-13 years who completed measures of emotion regulation, perceived social support, self-esteem, and PWB at baseline and 1-month follow-up in primary school, and at 6-month follow-up post-secondary school transition. COVID-19 school closures, school socioeconomic status and gender were examined as moderators. Repeated-measures multi-level models revealed a significant decline in boys' emotional suppression use, an increase in boys' self-esteem, and a decline in girls' PWB across the transition. Further, perceived social support, self-esteem, and gender were significant predictors of post-transition PWB while controlling for baseline PWB. This highlights the importance of enhancing social support and self-esteem across secondary school transition and considering gender differences in school transition effects. Policymakers should consider interventions that bolster these factors during this critical developmental phase.
Related Concept Videos
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Childhood
The first four of Erikson's eight...
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Traits, Mood, and Subjective Wellbeing
Neuroticism and...

