Emotion Socialization,Peer Relations,and School Belonging During the High School Transition

The transition to high school is an important context shift in adolescence. School belonging is a salient outcome that relates to future achievement and is influenced by peer relations. Supportive emotion socialization is a protective factor that has not previously been examined in relation to school belonging. The present study examined whether parent and friend emotion socialization prior to the high school transition moderated associations of peer relations with school belonging after the high school transition. Eighty-seven adolescents (50 girls, 37 boys; M age = 14.23 years, SD = .50) reported parents’ and friends’ emotion socialization and school belonging. Parents reported adolescents’ problematic peer relations. Problematic peer relations related to lower school belonging in high school, but only when friends provided lower levels of supportive emotion socialization prior to the high school transition. Findings suggest that friend supportive emotion socialization may be a protective factor for the high school transition.