control and coercion, the adolescent will question his/her self-worth (Barber & Chadwick, 1992). The results of Barber and Chadwicks study (1992) found that adolescent self-esteem was significantly correlated with adolescents perception of parent-adolescent relationships characterized by feelings of security and availability. This research portrays an important component in adolescent self-esteem. School Transition as a Component of Adolescent Self-esteemWigfield, A., Eccles, J., Mac Iver, D., Reuman, D., and Midgley, C. (1991) studied the change across the junior high school transition in young adolescents general self-esteem. Wigfield et al. (1991) also examined the level of math competence and gender and how it effected the change in students self-perceptions. The results of this study found that self-esteem was lower among the adolescents immediately following the transition to junior high school (Wigfield et al., 1991). Although, the students self-esteem increased during the seventh grade year; the disruption in the adolescents self-esteem was not long lasting (Wigfield et. al., 1991). It was also found that the adolescents mathematics, English, social, and sports self-concepts became more negative immediately after the transition to junior high school (Wigfield et. al., 1991). To explain these declines, Wigfield et al, (1991) believe that the differences in classroom environments between elementary and junior high school play a role. They found that junior high school math teachers evaluate the students in a stricter manner and the student-teacher relationships are less positive (Wigfield et al., 1991). Wigfield et al. (1991) concluded that the transitions to junior high school correlated with changes in adolescents perceived self-esteem and domain-specific beliefs. This explanation of an additive feature to adolescents self-esteem can be viewed as contributing to the overall perception of self-worth.Ethnicity as a Comp...
