The Trajectory of Popularity Goal During the Transition to Middle School

The trajectory of early adolescents’ popularity goal during the transition to middle school was examined in a diverse sample of 401 students. Popularity goal was assessed at five time points from the spring semester of fifth grade through the spring semester of seventh grade with the transition to middle school occurring between the fifth and sixth grades. Results showed a significant increase in youth’s endorsement of popularity goal after the transition to middle school followed by a significant decrease in popularity goal over the course of the sixth and seventh grade years. The rate of change for popularity goal during the transition was significantly different depending on youth’s popularity and their perceptions of the popularity peer norm: youth with low popularity significantly increased their popularity goal during the transition, and youth who perceived high peer norms for popularity also significantly increased their popularity goal during the transition to middle school. No gender differences but significant ethnic differences were found in the popularity goal trajectories.