Objective To explore the developmental characteristics of self-confidence of middle school students

and to provide basis for the improvement and cultivation of adaptability and comprehensive quality of middle school students.Method 516 middle school students were investigated with Youth Self-confidence Inventory and the results were statistically analyzed.Results Male students had higher scores than female students（P<0.05 or P<0.01） in terms of achievement expectation

coping efficacy and interpersonal confidence;as for the dimensions of achievement expectation

academic confidence

coping efficacy

moral certainty and interpersonal confidence

the differences of students from different grades were statistically significant（P<0.01）;the differences between students of urban and rural areas were statistically significant（P<0.01）

and the scores of urban students were higher than those of rural students;the scores of single children were higher than those of children with siblings in the aspects of achievement expectation

academic confidence and interpersonal confidence

and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.05 or P<0.01）.Conclusion The confidence of middle school students varies with such aspects as gender

grade

urban-rural difference and whether being a single child.We should promote targeted education on the basis of differences of students.