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Original Article

Effects of Psychosocial Characteristics of Middle School Students on High School Grades and On-Time Graduation

Published Online:April 22, 2016https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000334

Abstract

Abstract. Research has shown that psychosocial factors (PSFs) have a positive impact on high school outcomes, including grades and persistence. However, few longitudinal studies have examined the nature of these relationships. We report on a longitudinal study of middle school students followed through high school completion. We found that high school GPA mediates the effects of prior academic achievement, demographics, and most PSFs on on-time high school graduation. A measure of self-regulation had a significant direct effect on on-time graduation. The results underscore the importance of PSFs in predicting academic outcomes, even after accounting for prior achievement and demographics. Implications of examining PSFs early in students’ academic progression are discussed.

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