LONGITUDINAL TRAJECTORIES OF SELF-ESTEEM FROM EARLY TO MIDDLE ADOLESCENCE AND RELATED PSYCHOSOCIAL VARIABLES AMONG RURAL ADOLESCENTS

This study examined both intraindividual and interindividual differenc es in self-esteem longitudinally among 142 rural adolescents. Data wer e collected over a 4-year period beginning immediately after the trans ition to junior high school and encompassing the transition to high sc hool. Cluster analysis identified three distinct, divergent trajectori es of self-esteem change from early to middle adolescence: Consistentl y High (47%), Small Increase (37%), and Chronically Low (16%). Cluster s differed significantly on peer and family relationships and on emoti onal tone in a pattern consistent with differences in level of self-es teem. The findings support previous research regarding covariates of s elf-esteem across school transitions and illustrate the variability of self-esteem among rural adolescents.