ASPIRE Publikationen

This study tested the motivational and achievement-related factors associated with immigrant adolescents’ high educational and occupational aspirations. Adolescents residing in Austria (457 girls; 235 first-generation, 418 second-generation and 238 2.5-generation immigrants) aged 11 to 15 years (M age = 12.50, SD age = 1.08) participated. For all three immigrant groups, high levels of social relatedness–supportive teaching styles in German language predicted high levels of scholastic self-concept, high levels of scholastic self-concept in German language predicted high levels of achievement, and high levels of academic achievement predicted high levels of aspirations. High levels of competence supportive teaching styles predicted high levels of scholastic self-concept only among first-generation immigrants. The implications for host country language instruction of immigrant adolescents are discussed.

Taking a socio-ecological theoretical perspective, the present study (1) examined the concurrent and longitudinal associations between offline, cyber, and ethnic victimization, and (2) investigated whether the same or different intra- and interpersonal variables are longitudinal risk or protective factors. A three-wave longitudinal study including 630 adolescents (50% boys, 12.52 years at wave 1, 7% first and 14% second generation immigrant) was utilized. Cross lagged panel models showed that neither offline victimization nor cyber victimization predicted ethnic victimization longitudinally. Positive peer relations, good class climate, high levels of school bonding, high levels of school motivation and high levels of self-efficacy at the beginning of grade 7 were protective factors for low levels of ethnic, cyber, and offline victimization at the end of grade 7. However, only high levels of ethnic victimization at the beginning of grade 7 were also risk factors for low levels of positive peer relations, school bonding and school motivation at the end of grade 7. Ethnic victimization at the end of grade 8 could not be predicted prospectively. Considering its unique negative consequences within grade 7, it is important to give ethnic victimization a special attention in anti-bullying programs.

The majority of asylum seekers experience some kind of traumatic events before or during their flight and their challenging experiences do not end after resettlement. Still, they need to envision and build their future life in the host country. Moreover, asylum seekers’ future aspirations need to be differentiated from the satisfaction of essential needs. We (1) measured future aspirations (FA); (2) explored whether FA and post-migration life difficulties (PMLD) differ between asylum seekers with high and low levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS); and (3) examined whether PTSS, PMLD, gender, age, and length of stay are associated with different types of FA. In total, 139 Iraqi and Syrian asylum seekers (55 female, 83 male) aged 18 to 67 years (M = 34.03, SD = 10.35) participated. A four-factor structure of FA was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Participants with high levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms reported higher levels of PMLD and lower levels of FA related to their home country. FA related to the host country and FA related to occupation were predicted by lower levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms, while future aspirations related to the home country were predicted by higher levels of PMLD. Results indicate that asylum seekers who experienced more traumatic events before they migrated are more reluctant to return to these places in the future. Treating the psychological impairments of this highly vulnerable group and relaxing the manifold structural barriers are crucial to foster their construction of a future life.

Computers and technology are still perceived as a male domain. As a result of this “digital gender gap” boys aspire careers in the information and communication technology (ICT) branches much more than girls. Guided by the situated expectancy-value theory of motivated behavioral choices, the present study aims to shed light on the predictors of digital career aspirations. Methods: Self-report questionnaires were completed by 1018 Austrian adolescents (52.3% girls; 72% non-immigrants; Mage = 13.55, SDage = 0.88) attending 61 Grade 7 and 8 classes located in 17 vocational secondary schools between April and June 2019. Individual and class-level predictors of digital career aspirations were investigated with multilevel modeling. Results: Hierarchical linear models revealed that boys, younger adolescents, and second-generation immigrant adolescents had higher levels of digital career aspirations compared to girls, older adolescents, and non-immigrants. Hours spend with the laptop per day, digital self-efficacy and media appraisal positively predicted digital career aspirations on the individual level, while a higher number of immigrants in the classes and higher levels of teacher discussions about media were significant positive predictors on the class level. The model explained 17% of the individual level and 52% of the class level variance. Cross-level interactions were nonsignificant. Conclusions: These results have major implications for educational practice. Most importantly, educational interventions should enhance girls' digital self-efficacy believes and media appraisal. Furthermore, teachers should increase their discussion about digital media as they foster adolescents' digital career aspirations and might prevent future gender segregation in the ICT sector.

Informed by a risk and resilience developmental perspective, this study tests individual, family and school level processes as potential explanations of the immigrant academic achievement gap. In total, 1155 adolescents (48% girls; 20% immigrants, 11–14 years) attending grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 in secondary schools participated. Controlling for gender, age, citizenship, country of birth, SES, and school type, immigrant adolescents had lower levels of academic achievement compared to non-immigrants. High levels of scholastic anxiety, low levels of scholastic self-concept, high levels of parental performance expectations, and high school performance expectations helped to explain these associations. In the full model, only scholastic anxiety and self-concept remained significant mediators. Recommendations are to implement positive and growth-oriented student-centred teaching styles to reduce the immigrant academic achievement gap.