This thesis addresses to what extent childhood family composition – the number of siblings and whether the parents live together, or whether there are non-parental adults and/or half-siblings in the household or not – contributes to variations in adult earnings. The theoretical perspective suggests that resources mediate the effect. While research has shown that siblings, as well as divorce and remarriage, are negatively linked to child outcomes, there are inconsistencies in previous literature. There has been debate over the unconfoundedness of previous studies, something that is handled here by analyzing large sets of representative data using a robust parameter. The longitudinal dataset used is based on Swedish administrative data and the cohorts analyzed are born in the beginning of the 1970s. The data structure is well suited for the assumptions underlying the semi-parametric method propensity score matching. The findings show that family size impacts on adult earnings. However, this is not always of concern. For example, no effect of siblings is found in affluent families, and if siblings are closely spaced this results in better outcomes for children. Divorce and remarriage do not seem to lower the future earnings of children. Thus, this thesis shows that some of the most well-established patterns in the sociology of the family, namely the link between number of siblings and adult earnings, and between divorce/family re-formation and adult earnings, can be broken by resources.

There is convincing support for the link between family composition and adolescents’ problem behaviors. What is less clear is the extent to which these relations exist for African-American adolescents. Previous studies have demonstrated that this relation varies by gender. However, there is limited evidence to suggest the potential moderating influence of adult support. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of family composition on adolescents’ physical aggression, delinquency, and substance use. The study comes from secondary analyses of a larger study that evaluated the effectiveness of a violence prevention program. The current study included 1,116 African-American middle school students from an urban setting who endorsed living with their biological mother and considered her to be their parent. Results indicated that among adolescents who identified their nonresidential biological father as their parent, those in stepfather families reported lower levels of delinquency than those in single-mother families. Support was not found for similar differences in self-report of delinquency and substance use, and teacher-report of adolescents’ physical aggression. No other differences in family composition were found for adolescent problem behavior. Support was also not found for the moderating roles of gender or adult support. However, self-report of delinquency and substance use, and teacher-report of physical aggression were negatively related to adult support. This was not the case for self-report of physical aggression. These findings suggest that interventions may need to provide additional resources that would help both parents and adolescents within single-parent families.

Tyrime dalyvavo 222 pirmų klasių mokiniai iš septynių Kauno mokyklų. Tiriamųjų amžius– nuo 6 iki 8 metų. Tyrime dalyvavo 134 mergaitės (60,4 %) ir 88 berniukai (39,6 %). Vaikų socialinė kompetencija buvo matuojama naudojant Socialinės kompetencijos pradinėje mokykloje skalės (SKPMS) trumpąją versiją, kurią užpildė klasės mokytoja. Metodika parengta Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto Teorinės psichologijos katedros doktorantės Šarūnės Magelinskaitės- Legkauskienės. Tėvų tarpusavio santykių kokybė vertinta Suvokiamos santykio kokybės skale (Perceived Relationship Quality Components (PRQC)) (Flet-cher et al., 2000), kurią užpildė vaikų tėvai. Lietuviška skalės versija buvo gauta iš Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto Bendrosios psichologijos katedros doc. dr. Visvaldo Legkausko. Šeimos sudėtis buvo vertinta klausiant tėvų, ar vaikas gyvena su abiem biologiniais tėvais, ar vaiko tėvai yra išsiskyrę, teiraujamasi apie vaikų skaičių šeimoje, jų amžių, tiriamojo gimimo eiliškumą. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad socialinė kompetencija tarp berniukų ir mergaičių nesiskiria, tačiau yra tendencija skirtumui atsirasti. Pirmaklasių mergaičių iš pilnų šeimų, socialinė kompetencija yra aukštesnė nei mergaičių iš išsiskyrusių šeimų. Pirmaklasių socialinės kompetencijos ir vaikų skaičiaus šeimoje ryšys yra susijęs su lytimi: berniukų, turinčių bent vieną brolį ar seserį, socialinė kompetencija nesiskiria nuo vienintelių šeimoje berniukų; mergaičių, turinčių bent vieną brolį ar seserį, socialinė... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of the study was to assess first graders' social competence links with the family composition and parental relationship quality. Subjects were 222 first-grade students attending seven schools in Kaunas. Age of subjects was ranging from 6 to 8 years. 134 (60.4%) of the subjects were girls and the rest 88 (39.6%) were boys (39.6%). Children's social competence was measured using the short versijon of the Social competence of elementary school scale (SKPMS),completed by the class teacher. The methodology developed by doctoral student Šarūnė Magelinskaitė-Legkauskienė at Vytautas Magnus University, Department of Theoretical Psychology. The quality of the relationship between parents rated Perceived Relationship Quality Components (PRQC) (Flet-cher et al., 2000), completed by the parents of children. Lithuanian version of the scale was obtained from doc. dr..Visvaldas Legkauskas at Vytautas Magnus University, Department of General Psychology. Family composition has been rated by asking parents whether the child lives with both biological parents or the child's parents are divorced, has been asked about the number of children in the family, their ages, birth order of the first – graders. The results showed that social competence is not different between boys and girls, but there is the tendency to occur the difference. First-graders living in two-parent families in the girls sample groups have a higher social competence than first-graders living in divorced families... [to full text]

Diversos fatores contribuem para o crescimento do papel da criança como um agente influente no processo de tomada de decisão da família, tais como aqueles relacionados ao fácil uso e interação com a tecnologia e suas diferentes formas e gadgets, além das recentes mudanças demográficas e na estrutura familiar, com a diminuição do número de crianças por família, pessoas optando por ter filhos com mais idade, pais e mães trabalhando fora, e o aumento dos rendimentos da população no Brasil, entre outros. Embora este fenômeno seja conhecido, ainda há muito para ser descoberto e entendido em relação à dinâmica que acompanha esse processo de influência reversa. Esse estudo pretende aprofundar-se nas especificidades de cada família, no estilo parental e estrutura familiar, analisando como tais questões podem impactar no processo de influência reversa entre gerações, especialmente a que flui dos filhos em direção aos seus pais. Devido ao trabalho de investigação proposto, optou-se por realizar uma pesquisa exploratória qualitativa de orientação interpretativista, partindo de uma revisão de literatura abrangente acerca do tema proposto e a partir daí com a condução de entrevistas em profundidade com 21 famílias, envolvendo pais e filhos pré-adolescentes, na idade de 10 a 14 anos, totalizando 57 entrevistas individuais. Entre os resultados encontrados destacam-se uma tendência das famílias serem mais abertas às opiniões e sugestões dos filhos, e a crescente participação desses não só na busca por informações e escolhas, mas em um peso efetivo no momento da tomada de decisão pelos pais. Outro achado trata do poder dos filhos no que se refere a consumo privado, ou seja, produtos ou serviços de interesse direto deles. Por outro lado, já se percebe também, a maior participação dos filhos no processo de compra e tomada de decisão a cerca de produtos de valores agregados, mais caros, e de uso público/familiar, fato esse enfatizado por emoções como a culpa, especialmente entre famílias com pais ausentes de fato (por motivo de viuvez ou separação dos pais) ou em função da absorção do trabalho, criando um distanciamento e uma necessidade de criação de um mecanismo compensatório. Filhos únicos também têm um papel importante nesse processo, assim com a influência de terceiros. / Many different factors contribute for the growth of children’s role as influential agents in the family decision-making process such as technology in its most different shapes, and how easy is for the children to manage them, besides the recent changes in demographic and household structures with a decrease of number of children per family, people having children later in life, parents working out of home, the increasing medium income population in Brazil, where this work took place and so forth. Although this phenomenon is known, there is a lot to discover and understand in terms of dynamics that comes along with it. This study seeks a deeper understanding into the specificities within each family like parental style and family structure, looking for responses about how these matters can also shape this process of intergenerational influence, specially the “Reversal Intergenerational Influence” which flows from children to their parents. Due the investigation work proposed, it was decided to conduct a qualitative research under interpretative guidance, starting from a comprehensive literature review regarding the proposed theme followed by 21 in-depth interviews conducted among families including parents and their children, tweens within 10 to 14 years old, giving a total of 57individual in-depth interviews. Among the findings the families openness to their children ´opinions tendency stands out, besides their growing participation in the whole family decision making process, from information search, and choices, until the real moment of purchase decision making. Another finding is related to children´s power, about private consumption, that means, products and services which they have direct interest on them. On the other hand, it is also already perceived the growing participation of children on purchase decision making process of expensive products and public/family products. This fact is emphasized by emotions like guilty, especially among families with absent parents (by widowhood or divorce) or due parents work absorption, creating a gap and a need for creating a compensatory mechanism. Unique child also plays an important role in this process as third-party influence as well.

Diversos fatores contribuem para o crescimento do papel da criança como um agente influente no processo de tomada de decisão da família, tais como aqueles relacionados ao fácil uso e interação com a tecnologia e suas diferentes formas e gadgets, além das recentes mudanças demográficas e na estrutura familiar, com a diminuição do número de crianças por família, pessoas optando por ter filhos com mais idade, pais e mães trabalhando fora, e o aumento dos rendimentos da população no Brasil, entre outros. Embora este fenômeno seja conhecido, ainda há muito para ser descoberto e entendido em relação à dinâmica que acompanha esse processo de influência reversa. Esse estudo pretende aprofundar-se nas especificidades de cada família, no estilo parental e estrutura familiar, analisando como tais questões podem impactar no processo de influência reversa entre gerações, especialmente a que flui dos filhos em direção aos seus pais. Devido ao trabalho de investigação proposto, optou-se por realizar uma pesquisa exploratória qualitativa de orientação interpretativista, partindo de uma revisão de literatura abrangente acerca do tema proposto e a partir daí com a condução de entrevistas em profundidade com 21 famílias, envolvendo pais e filhos pré-adolescentes, na idade de 10 a 14 anos, totalizando 57 entrevistas individuais. Entre os resultados encontrados destacam-se uma tendência das famílias serem mais abertas às opiniões e sugestões dos filhos, e a crescente participação desses não só na busca por informações e escolhas, mas em um peso efetivo no momento da tomada de decisão pelos pais. Outro achado trata do poder dos filhos no que se refere a consumo privado, ou seja, produtos ou serviços de interesse direto deles. Por outro lado, já se percebe também, a maior participação dos filhos no processo de compra e tomada de decisão a cerca de produtos de valores agregados, mais caros, e de uso público/familiar, fato esse enfatizado por emoções como a culpa, especialmente entre famílias com pais ausentes de fato (por motivo de viuvez ou separação dos pais) ou em função da absorção do trabalho, criando um distanciamento e uma necessidade de criação de um mecanismo compensatório. Filhos únicos também têm um papel importante nesse processo, assim com a influência de terceiros. / Many different factors contribute for the growth of children’s role as influential agents in the family decision-making process such as technology in its most different shapes, and how easy is for the children to manage them, besides the recent changes in demographic and household structures with a decrease of number of children per family, people having children later in life, parents working out of home, the increasing medium income population in Brazil, where this work took place and so forth. Although this phenomenon is known, there is a lot to discover and understand in terms of dynamics that comes along with it. This study seeks a deeper understanding into the specificities within each family like parental style and family structure, looking for responses about how these matters can also shape this process of intergenerational influence, specially the “Reversal Intergenerational Influence” which flows from children to their parents. Due the investigation work proposed, it was decided to conduct a qualitative research under interpretative guidance, starting from a comprehensive literature review regarding the proposed theme followed by 21 in-depth interviews conducted among families including parents and their children, tweens within 10 to 14 years old, giving a total of 57individual in-depth interviews. Among the findings the families openness to their children ´opinions tendency stands out, besides their growing participation in the whole family decision making process, from information search, and choices, until the real moment of purchase decision making. Another finding is related to children´s power, about private consumption, that means, products and services which they have direct interest on them. On the other hand, it is also already perceived the growing participation of children on purchase decision making process of expensive products and public/family products. This fact is emphasized by emotions like guilty, especially among families with absent parents (by widowhood or divorce) or due parents work absorption, creating a gap and a need for creating a compensatory mechanism. Unique child also plays an important role in this process as third-party influence as well.

Diversos fatores contribuem para o crescimento do papel da criança como um agente influente no processo de tomada de decisão da família, tais como aqueles relacionados ao fácil uso e interação com a tecnologia e suas diferentes formas e gadgets, além das recentes mudanças demográficas e na estrutura familiar, com a diminuição do número de crianças por família, pessoas optando por ter filhos com mais idade, pais e mães trabalhando fora, e o aumento dos rendimentos da população no Brasil, entre outros. Embora este fenômeno seja conhecido, ainda há muito para ser descoberto e entendido em relação à dinâmica que acompanha esse processo de influência reversa. Esse estudo pretende aprofundar-se nas especificidades de cada família, no estilo parental e estrutura familiar, analisando como tais questões podem impactar no processo de influência reversa entre gerações, especialmente a que flui dos filhos em direção aos seus pais. Devido ao trabalho de investigação proposto, optou-se por realizar uma pesquisa exploratória qualitativa de orientação interpretativista, partindo de uma revisão de literatura abrangente acerca do tema proposto e a partir daí com a condução de entrevistas em profundidade com 21 famílias, envolvendo pais e filhos pré-adolescentes, na idade de 10 a 14 anos, totalizando 57 entrevistas individuais. Entre os resultados encontrados destacam-se uma tendência das famílias serem mais abertas às opiniões e sugestões dos filhos, e a crescente participação desses não só na busca por informações e escolhas, mas em um peso efetivo no momento da tomada de decisão pelos pais. Outro achado trata do poder dos filhos no que se refere a consumo privado, ou seja, produtos ou serviços de interesse direto deles. Por outro lado, já se percebe também, a maior participação dos filhos no processo de compra e tomada de decisão a cerca de produtos de valores agregados, mais caros, e de uso público/familiar, fato esse enfatizado por emoções como a culpa, especialmente entre famílias com pais ausentes de fato (por motivo de viuvez ou separação dos pais) ou em função da absorção do trabalho, criando um distanciamento e uma necessidade de criação de um mecanismo compensatório. Filhos únicos também têm um papel importante nesse processo, assim com a influência de terceiros. / Many different factors contribute for the growth of children’s role as influential agents in the family decision-making process such as technology in its most different shapes, and how easy is for the children to manage them, besides the recent changes in demographic and household structures with a decrease of number of children per family, people having children later in life, parents working out of home, the increasing medium income population in Brazil, where this work took place and so forth. Although this phenomenon is known, there is a lot to discover and understand in terms of dynamics that comes along with it. This study seeks a deeper understanding into the specificities within each family like parental style and family structure, looking for responses about how these matters can also shape this process of intergenerational influence, specially the “Reversal Intergenerational Influence” which flows from children to their parents. Due the investigation work proposed, it was decided to conduct a qualitative research under interpretative guidance, starting from a comprehensive literature review regarding the proposed theme followed by 21 in-depth interviews conducted among families including parents and their children, tweens within 10 to 14 years old, giving a total of 57individual in-depth interviews. Among the findings the families openness to their children ´opinions tendency stands out, besides their growing participation in the whole family decision making process, from information search, and choices, until the real moment of purchase decision making. Another finding is related to children´s power, about private consumption, that means, products and services which they have direct interest on them. On the other hand, it is also already perceived the growing participation of children on purchase decision making process of expensive products and public/family products. This fact is emphasized by emotions like guilty, especially among families with absent parents (by widowhood or divorce) or due parents work absorption, creating a gap and a need for creating a compensatory mechanism. Unique child also plays an important role in this process as third-party influence as well.

The hope of educators is that children will obtain a strong educational foundation that will lead to life-long learning and a bright future. However, several factors may play a role in hindering a successful outcome. Addressing the at-risk indicators of excessive absences, discipline referrals, socioeconomic status, disability status, early grade retention, and family composition gives insight into struggles students face. Looking at 6 research questions, an independent sample t test was used to determine the difference in students who had excessive absences and discipline referrals in relation to school success. A chi-square analysis was used to identify the relationship between socioeconomic status, disability status, family composition, early grade retention, and school success. Results of the study suggested that there was a significant negative relationship between school success and poor attendance and with discipline referrals. Socioeconomic status was not significant when looking at school success. The study showed that students eligible for free and reduced price meals program had nearly the same chance for school success as students who were not eligible for free and reduced price meals program. Disability status and grade retention were not significant factors in school success. Students who lived in a nontraditional family were not at risk for school failure.