Adolescent self-efficacy and orientation about the future: Longitudinal associations with family/school support and sense of purpose

Future-oriented self-efficacy and behaviors are essential assets as youth move from the structure of school to more independent pursuits. Given that adolescence is a time for internalizing goals, it is possible that future-oriented efficacy and behaviors grow out of an emerging sense of purpose and are scaffolded by parents, teachers, and school counselors. This study tested the longitudinal relations between parental, teacher, and school counselor support and future-oriented outcomes, with the mediating role of sense of purpose, using a racially and ethnically diverse sample of high school students followed across three years (n = 645; 51% female; $M_{\mathrm{age}}=15.62$). Early support from parents and satisfaction with school counselors, but not positive relationships with teachers, were significantly associated with adolescents' sense of purpose one year later, which then predicted future-oriented self-efficacy and behaviors in the last years of high school. Adolescents' sense of purpose at Time 2 mediated the pathway from the support of parents and school counselors at Time 1 to the outcomes at Time 3. While these associations did not vary by gender or students' intended postsecondary pathways—whether work or college—there were significant mean differences in each subgroup's perception of adult support. Findings suggest the need for parents and counselors to prioritize fostering a sense of purpose and tailoring supportive strategies to meet the needs of students based on their gender and aspirations.