Changes in School Connectedness and Deviant Peer Affiliation Among Sixth-Grade Students From High-Poverty Neighborhoods

Kathleen Moritz Rudasill, Kate Niehaus, Lisa J. Crockett, Christopher R. Rakes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

This longitudinal study examined associations between changes in School Connectedness and changes in Affiliation With Deviant Peers among students from high-poverty backgrounds during the year immediately following the transition to middle school. Sixth-graders (N = 328) attending two middle schools in a large school district completed measures of School Connectedness and Affiliation With Deviant Peers at three points across the year. Results from parallel process modeling showed that students’ reports of School Support significantly declined across the school year, School Support and Affiliation With Deviant Peers were negatively associated at the beginning of the school year, and students who reported more declines in School Support were more likely to report growth in Affiliation With Deviant Peers across sixth grade. Gender differences were also found. Findings suggest that School Connectedness may be important for high-poverty students following the transition to middle school.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)896-922
Number of pages27
JournalJournal of Early Adolescence
Volume34
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 13 2014

Keywords

  • classroom behavior/environment
  • low income
  • problem/risky/antisocial behaviors
  • school context

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Life-span and Life-course Studies

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