title: Grade-Level Differences in Future-Oriented Self-Concept During Early Adolescence: Potential Relevance to School Nursing.
abstract: The middle school and early high school years are a time of significant development, including an increasing ability to envision oneself in the future. Little is known about how adolescents' future-oriented self-concept (i.e., possible selves) differs across grade levels, although this knowledge may aid in establishing rapport with students and building effective health promotion and risk reduction interventions. Therefore, this study explored grade-level differences in hoped for and feared possible selves in a sample of sixth- to ninth-grade students (n = 2,498; Mage= 12.72, SD = 1.15; 51.3% female). Findings suggest that adolescents list a variety of possible selves, and the content differs according to grade level. These findings offer helpful insight for intervention work aimed at improving student outcomes and preventing risk behavior. Understanding what adolescents hope and fear for themselves in the future may be particularly beneficial for school nurses in identifying the unique challenges students experience and tailoring health promotion efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems, Populations and Leadership, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI, USA sastodda@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5825-4159
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Stoddard
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems, Populations and Leadership, University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Carissa J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D012573:School Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: adolescence; possible selves; school nursing; school transitions