Longitudinal Trajectories of Self-Esteem From Early to Middle Adolescence and Related Psychosocial Variables Among Rural Adolescents

This study examined both intraindividual and interindividual differences in self-esteem longitudinally among 142 rural adolescents. Data were collected over a 4-year period beginning immediately after the transition to junior high school and encompassing the transition to high school. Cluster analysis identified three distinct, divergent trajectories of self-esteem change from early to middle adolescence: Consistently High (47%), Small Increase (37%), and Chronically Low (16%). Clusters differed significantly on peer and family relationships and on emotional tone in a pattern consistent with differences in level of self-esteem. The findings support previous research regarding covariates of self-esteem across school transitions and illustrate the variability of self-esteem among rural adolescents.