Psychological wellbeing and self-esteem in students across the transition between secondary school and university: A longitudinal study

• Main Authors: Malinauskas Romualdas, Dumciene Audrone
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Drustvo Psihologa Srbije 2017-01-01
• Series: Psihologija
• Subjects: psychological wellbeing; self-esteem; gender; transition status; students
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0048-5705/2017/0048-57051600003M.pdf
• ISSN: 0048-5705; 1451-9283

This longitudinal study investigated the psychological wellbeing and self-esteem of students during the transition between secondary school and university. The sample comprised 197 students (82 male; 115 female). The mean age of the students at the start of the study was 18.54 years (SD = 0.78). Students completed measures of psychological wellbeing (Ryff Psychological Wellbeing Scale) and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale) during their final year of secondary school and again at the start of their university studies. Repeated measures (RM) multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to investigate how transition status and gender affected aspects of psychological wellbeing and self-esteem. Multivariate analysis showed main effect of the transition from school to university on psychological wellbeing and self-esteem. Univariate analysis indicated that psychological wellbeing was higher at the start of university studies than during the final year of secondary school, but failed to confirm the effect of the transition on self-esteem. Gender by transition status interactions for two psychological wellbeing dimensions (autonomy and purpose in life) were found.