Terminal vs. Non-terminal Sixth Grades: The Effects of Transitioning to Middle School on Suicidal Thoughts and Substance Use.

In recent years, public schools have moved away from traditional grade configurations with junior high schools and have shifted towards integrating sixth grade students into middle schools. It has been argued that the effect this will have on students is to allow for additional freedom and earlier social growth. However, the counterargument to this debate is that these sixth grade students would then be exposed to an older cohort sooner and therefore would be exposed to negative peer influences. This study investigates the behavioral and emotional differences between sixth grade students in elementary schools and their counterparts in middle schools, including suicidal thoughts and a range of substance abuse behaviors. The data used come from the 2007 Delaware Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which surveyed 4,005 Delaware public school students in sixth through eighth grades. Preliminary analysis indicates significant differences between sixth grade students based on the type of school they attend. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]