University of Jyv€ askyl€ aThis study examines associations between leisure reading and reading skills in data of 2,525 students followed from age 7 to 16. As a step further from traditional cross-lagged analysis, a random intercept crosslagged panel model was used to identify within-person associations of leisure reading (books, magazines, newspapers, and digital reading), reading fluency, and reading comprehension. In Grades 1-3 poorer comprehension and fluency predicted less leisure reading. In later grades more frequent leisure reading, particularly of books, predicted better reading comprehension. Negative associations were found between digital reading and reading skills. The findings specify earlier findings of correlations between individuals by showing that reading comprehension improvement, in particular, is predicted by within-individual increases in book reading.

Fostering agency as a core component of professionalism is seen as a critical task of higher education. However, the tools for assessing university students' agency, and the pedagogical and relational resources needed for its development, are lacking. The present study describes the theoretical foundations and factor structure of the newly developed Agency of University Students (AUS) Scale, which assesses students' course-specific agency. In the factor analysis, ten factors emerged. Four of these -Interest and motivation, Self-efficacy, Competence beliefs and Participation activity -are seen to represent individual resources of agency. The other four factors -Equal treatment, Teacher support, Peer support and Trust -represent relational sources of agency. Finally, Opportunities to influence, and Opportunities to make choices represent contextual sources of agency. The psychometric properties and uses of the scale are discussed.

This study examines profiles of school motivation and emotional well-being and their links to academic skills (reading and math) among adolescents (N = 1,629) at the end of comprehensive school (age 15-16). Using a person-centered approach (latent profile analysis), five distinct profile groups were identified. Three of the identified groups had a flat profile in motivation and wellbeing but at different levels. The first group manifested high motivation and well-being (n = 178, 11%); the second group was average in both (n = 1,107, 68%); and the third had low motivation and well-being (n = 121, 7%). Two groups had mixed profiles; one group manifested only low motivation (n = 140, 9%) and the other only low well-being (n = 83, 5%). A comparison of the profile groups in terms of academic skills indicated that low school motivation was linked to poor math and reading performance, whereas low emotional well-being was linked to poor math and reading performance only when accompanied by low school motivation. The association between poor math skills and low motivation suggests that, when planning support for students, those with math problems or comorbid math and reading problems are especially at risk for low motivation and need support in both academic skills and motivation.

This person-centered study examined the patterns and the dynamics of pattern change based on 1,666 Finnish students' self-reported psychological well-being during the transition from primary school to lower secondary school. Moreover, we examined the stability in the profile memberships and the influence of changes in perceived support from teachers, families, and peers on changes in students' psychological wellbeing. Six student profiles were identified using the I-states-as-objects-analysis (ISOA) procedure: (a) High well-being profile; (b) Average well-being but low educational aspirations profile; (c) Low well-being profile; (d) Low well-being but high educational aspirations profile; (e) Low well-being but average self-esteem profile; and (f) Average well-being but high educational aspirations profile. Students' psychological profiles changed more often from lower well-being to higher wellbeing, rather than the other way round, indicating a tendency for improved wellbeing. Changes in peer support was the most robust variable to explain changes in profile membership.

In the longitudinal study presented here, we tested the theoretical assumption that children's task-focused behavior in learning situations mediates the associations between supportive interpersonal environments and academic performance. The sample consisted of 2,137 Finnish-speaking children. Data on supportive interpersonal environments (characterized by authoritative parenting, positive teacher affect toward the child, and peer acceptance) were gathered in Grade 1. The children's task-focused behavior was measured in Grades 2 and 3, and academic performance was measured in Grades 1 and 4. The results supported our assumption by showing that all three supportive environments were positively associated with children's subsequent academic performance via increased task-focused behavior in learning situations. These findings suggest that students' academic performance can be promoted by increasing the support they receive from peers, parents, and teachers because such increased support leads to better task focus in learning tasks.