Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Psychosocial Reserve Capacity, Family Background And Selection Of An Educational Path – A Longitudinal Study From Finland, Paulyn Jean A. Claro, Leena Kristiina Koivusilta, Mari-Pauliina Vainikainen, Arja Rimpelä

Graduate School of Business Publications

Finnish students start academic or vocational track in upper secondary education at age 16 years. Track placement is based on grades, but family background and psychosocial resources may have influences. Using 2014 survey data of Grade 9 students in Helsinki Metropolitan area linked to the Joint Application Registry data as of 2017, we fitted two-level, sex-stratified, generalized structural equation models to determine how reserve capacity (academic self-efficacy and social support), family background, and the comprehensive schools predict track placement. Adjusting for the effect of grades, low reserve capacity and disadvantaged family background increased probabilities of vocational track and non-placement of …