¿Camino o encrucijada? La vinculación en la transición de la enseñanza secundaria a enseñanza superiorCaminho ou encruzilhada? A vinculação na transiçãodo ensino secundário para o ensino superior

Abstract

With this work we tried to: understand the transition process from secondary education to higher learning (college or university); evaluate young people�s connection to their parents and their peers; acknowledge the process of young adult�s integration into university context; evaluate young people�s adaptation to higher learning and determine in which ways their vinculation to their parents and peers can relate to their social integration and adaptation. We�ve done a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional and correlational study in a sampling of 318 university students. The results show evidence of a relation between vinculation, social integration and young student�s adaptation. As to vinculation quality a detailed analysis shows that young people have a higher vinculation to their mothers. Social integration tends to ease if significant vinculation to mothers and fathers exists. Young students� adaptation do higher education is entirely dependent on mother�s vinculation. A balanced transition from secondary to higher school and young peoples� integration and fruitful stay at university demand a definition of preventive actions from the university institution. Therefore coordination between university institution, family, teachers and peers is indispensable for young students� success.