The Relationship between Future Expectations and School Adaptation of Adolescents

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship between adolescents’ future expectations and their adaptation to school. Another aim is to examine adolescents’ future expectations and adaptation to school according to the following three variables: gender, school type, and reason for high school preference. In terms of participants, 651 students in three secondary schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in Turkey’s Eastern Anatolia region participated voluntarily. Data were collected using Adolescent Future Expectations Scale, School Adjustment Scale, and personal information forms. A “comparative and correlational research” method was used in the study. Spearman Rank Differences correlation analysis and Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests analyzed the data. As a result of the research, a low level statistically significant positive correlation was found between all sub-dimensions of adolescents’ future expectations (work and education, marriage and family, religion and society, health and life) and school adaptation. Adolescents’ future expectations and adaptation to school differed significantly according to gender and reason for high school preference. Additionally, the adolescents’ future expectations differed according to the type of school.