This study has looked at the temporal and multidimensional self in high-ability African American males attending a specialized school for high-ability youth. Interviews were conducted with 9 students. Results provided details about the hoped-for and feared selves the young men envisioned as well as the strategies these youth utilized to realize and avoid these possibilities for their future. The interviews also demonstrated the impact of family, the specialized school’s culture, their neighborhoods, and racism on the possibilities the young men envisioned for themselves. Interrelationships between the attempt to attain possible selves, academic self-concept, socioeconomic status, race, and year in school were assessed via a path model with data from 253 high-ability male students attending the specialized school. The nature of the relationships amongst the variables revealed that older students better able to attain or avoid possible selves had higher academic self-concepts. Higher academic self-concepts resulted in higher grades and SAT scores. / Department of Educational Psychology

[Truncated abstract] Enjoyable physical education (PE) has the potential to promote adolescent involvement in healthy activities outside the school setting. Disturbingly, evidence exists that many students do not enjoy PE and do not believe that it meets their needs. Indeed, a number of studies have documented an age-related decline in PE enjoyment among students. The research reported here is based on the assumption that a deeper understanding of the enjoyment processes could guide researchers and assist teachers in making PE classes more enjoyable for students. Given the fact that enjoyment is a product of multiple processes, a model of enjoyment developed by Scanlan and Lewthwaite (1986) was viewed as a potentially useful framework to guide this research. The validity of this model has been established in youth sport settings. However, further studies are needed to examine the utility of this framework in PE settings. In STUDY 1 (Chapter 3), a measurement instrument was constructed based on the Scanlan and Lewthwaite (1986) model. Content validity of the instrument was established by obtaining feedback from eight experts in psychology and four highly experienced secondary school teachers. ... Moreover, the results of correlation analyses again revealed significant positive relationships between PE teaching processes and enjoyment of PE. Unique findings in this study centered on the specific aspects of PA that were positively related to PE enjoyment. More v specifically, significant positive relationships were also obtained between PE enjoyment and self-reports of exercise duration (min-per-week: r = .30, p <.001), exercise intensity (r = .28, p < .001), exercise habit strength (r = .29, p < .001), and exercise stage-of-change (rho = .23, p < .001). Together, the findings from these studies provide support for the Scanlan and Lewthwaite (1986) model within the PE context. In addition, the findings provide guidance about how PA programs can be structured to maximize student enjoyment of PE. In terms of program structure, student enjoyment may be fostered by considering six processes. These processes are: self-referent competency, other-referent competency, teacher-generated excitement, activity-generated excitement, peer interaction, and parental encouragement. By emphasizing these processes, teachers will not only increase student enjoyment of PE but also increase the likelihood of involvement in PA outside of the school setting. Given global trends toward decreases in PA and increases in obesity, these outcomes could have important benefits for reducing public health costs in future.

The effects of cultural mistrust level and race of counselor on the willingness of Mexican-American adolescents to seek psychological help were examined in this experiment. A total of 79 Mexican-American adolescents consisting of 50 females and 29 males completed a Background Information Inventory, a modified version of the Cultural Mistrust Inventory, and the Help Seeking Attitude Scale. Five regression analyses were performed resulting in a significant interaction between cultural mistrust level and willingness to seek help. Mexican-American adolescents with high levels of mistrust were less willing to seek psychological treatment than those with a low level of mistrust. Results also indicated that females as well as individuals with higher levels of education were more willing to seek help than males and those with lower levels of education. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

There is a lack of research based data in the field of learning disabilities, especially at the secondary level. The purpose of this study was to evaluate personality configuration patterns and vocational interests through the administration of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Abbreviated Version (AV) and the Self-Directed Search, Form E (EASY) for learning disabled (LD) and non-learning disabled (NLD) students. The sample included 90 LD students and 100 Non-LD students grades 9 through 12 in a large suburban school system. Research questions considered: (1) differences in personality and vocational interest between LD and NLD students; (2) age and gender of LD and NLD students in relationship to vocational interests; (3) relationship between personality patterns and vocational interests between LD and NLD students. Treatment of the data used both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Analyses relied on categorical data, and the chi-square test was the statistical test used. Demographics provided data on groups regarding ability level and reading achievement scores related to occupational preferences and gender characteristics. Results indicated that no significant personality differences existed between LD and NLD adolescents. It was found, after looking at all possible interactions between vocational preferences and personality, age, grade, and gender, that significant differences occurred with gender and vocational preferences for both LD/NLD groups. Additionally, EI and TF differences in vocational preferences existed for LD and NLD students. EI and TF differences between LD and NLD career preference showed LD I's and T's prefer mechanical careers, whereas NLD I's and T's prefer teaching and sales. This is correlated with gender preference of LD males for mechanical (non interactive careers), whereas NLD prefer interactive careers / Ed. D.

The purpose of this study was to confirm the original factor structure of the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning (WRAML) utilizing a non-clinical adolescent population. Additional analysis examined the relationship between SAT-M scores and spatial relations ability. Exploratory analyses were conducted to determine ethnic and gender differences on the WRAML and subtests from the DAT. Sixty-four academically talented adolescents completed the WRAML and the mechanical reasoning and spatial relations subtests from the Differential Aptitude Test (DAT). The confirmatory factor analysis found the data obtained to not be a good fit for the factor structure of the WRAML (Sheslow & Adams, 1990). Additional confirmatory analyses were conducted which examined data fit of a three factor model found by reanalyzing the standardization data (Burton et al., 1996; Wasserman & Cambias, 1991) as well as two null models. The data failed to fit any of these three models. No support was found for the second hypothesis that predicted a positive relationship between SAT-M scores and spatial relations ability. Ethnic and gender differences on the WRAML and two DAT subtests were examined and discussed. Limitations of this study were reviewed which may have accounted for the overall lack of results.

The current study examined the effects of acculturative processes on the self-report of behavioral problems in Hispanic children ages 11-14. Acculturation was measured by the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II) (ã Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA, www.sagepub.com) (Cuellar, Arnold, and Maldonado, 1995) and the self-report of behavioral symptoms was assessed using the Youth Self-Report (ã T.M. Achenbach, Burlington, VT, www.aseba.com) (Achenbach, 1991). It was hypothesized that while both the linear and orthogonal categories of acculturation would account for a significant proportion of the variance in behavior problems in this age group, the orthogonal model would account for a larger proportion of variance due to its multidimensional nature. As well, it was hypothesized that the experimental Marginalization scales of the ARSMA-II would be predictive of behavioral problems. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to test these hypotheses and results were non-significant for the linear, orthogonal, and marginalization categories. The effects of the ethnic/cultural homogeneity of the region from which the sample was drawn, the buffering of social support, and the developmental aspects of ethnic identity are discussed as factors which may have influenced the potential impact of acculturative stress on psychological and behavioral functioning.

by Chen Siu-ling Eve. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-90). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / by Chen Siu-ling Eve. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.v / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.vii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.ix / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Gender Research in Hong Kong --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- "Gender Role Orientation, Adjustment and Psychological Well-being" --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research Objectives and Significance --- p.4 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1 --- Definitions and Terminology / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Defining Sex and Gender --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Defining Gender Role Orientation --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Defining Gender Type --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Defining Gender Stereotypes --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Defining Depressive Symptoms and School Misbehaviors --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2 --- Conceptualization / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Adolescent Development and Psychological Adjustment --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Gender Type and Adjustment --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Gender Stereotypes and Adjustment --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Gender Typing and Adjustment --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Gender Typing and Emotion Expression Socialization --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Gender Role and Adjustment --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Chinese Culture and Adjustment --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3 --- Gender Role Orientation Differences in Psychological Well-being --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4 --- "Masculinity, Femininity and Psychological Well-being" --- p.38 / Chapter 2.5 --- Research Questions --- p.40 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- RESEARCH METHOD --- p.42 / Chapter 3.1 --- Subjects --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2 --- Procedures --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3 --- Instruments / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Gender Role Orientation --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Depressive Symptoms --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- School Misbehaviors --- p.47 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- RESULTS --- p.48 / Chapter 4.1 --- Analyses of the Categorical Variables / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Misbehaviors --- p.53 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Gender Role Orientation Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Misbehaviors --- p.54 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Gender Type Differences in Depressive Symptoms and Misbehaviors --- p.55 / Chapter 4.2 --- Analyses of the Continuous Variables / Chapter 4.2.1 --- "Relations among Masculinity, Femininity, Depressive Symptoms and Misbehaviors" --- p.51 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- DISCUSSION --- p.64 / Chapter 5.1 --- Answers to the Research Questions / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Which Gender Role Orientation Adjusts Better Generally? --- p.65 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Which Gender Type Adjusts Better Specifically? --- p.66 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Which Adjustment Theory is Best Applied to Adolescentsin the Chinese Society of Hong Kong? --- p.66 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Do Depressive Symptoms and School Misbehaviors Predict Each Other? --- p.69 / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Does Masculinity or Femininity Act as a Predictor of Adjustment? --- p.69 / Chapter 5.2 --- Educational Implications of Research Findings / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Gender Education Programmes --- p.71 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Single Sex Schooling --- p.73 / Chapter 5.3 --- Contributions --- p.75 / Chapter 5.4 --- Limitations of the Study --- p.76 / Chapter 5.5 --- Directions for Future Research --- p.77 / REFERENCES --- p.79 / APPENDIX --- p.91

Using the stress process model, the relationship between pregnancy and depressive symptoms among adolescent girls was investigated. This model posits that stress resulting from social location and related disruptive life events may indirectly affect health by eroding coping, mastery, or social support mechanisms. The effect of low income, minority status and pregnancy on coping processes in adolescent girls was hypothesized and tested. Communication with parents, involvement in activities, and success in school were examined as positive coping strategies. Smoking tobacco, heavy alcohol use, and drug use were examined as negative coping. Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health were analyzed. After combining the available cases from the 2006, 2007, and 2008 datasets, selecting girls aged from 12 to 17 years, and removing missing cases; the sample consisted of a total of 22,854 adolescents. A series of binary logistic regression models were estimated. Findings included that coping strategies partially mediate the relationship between pregnancy and depressive symptoms. In particular, success in school, smoking tobacco, and drug abuse played a mediating role. When coping was accounted for, the relationship between pregnancy and depressive symptoms was reduced and became only marginally significant. Implications of the study include a focus on policy that promotes early intervention assisting at-risk adolescents with the development of coping strategies that may help them adjust to unexpected life events, such as pregnancy.

by Chan, Hak-man, Christian. / Includes questionaire in Chinese. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-76). / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- METHOD --- p.16 / Chapter III. --- RESULTS --- p.26 / Chapter IV. --- DISCUSSION --- p.50 / REFERENCES --- p.64 / APPENDIX --- p.77

Visual-spatial skills deficits are one of the primary neuropsychological deficits among children with Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD; Rourke, 1989) and Asperger's Syndrome (AS; Ellis, & Gunter, 1999; Klin, Volkmar, Sparrow, Cicchetti, & Rourke, 1995). In addition to affecting written tasks, visual-spatial deficits also have implications for the social functioning of children. Children who are not able to accurately process visual-spatial information will have difficulty processing the visual, nonverbal cues present in social situations including facial expressions, hand movements, and body posture (Nowicki & Duke, 1992). These social perception deficits make social interactions difficult for these children. As a result of their social differences, they are likely to get negative reactions from others, have social skills deficits (Petti, Voelker, Shore, and Hayman-Abello, 2003), and have much difficulty fitting in with same-aged peers. These social skills deficits will likely lead to internalized adjustment problems in which these children feel isolated, withdrawn, and depressed around their peers. This sequence of events, visual-spatial deficits, followed by social perception deficits, followed by social skills deficits, which ultimately lead to internalized emotional problems, is implied, but not empirically proven, in a study by Petti and colleagues (2003). In addition to experiencing greater socioemotional problems than other LD subtypes, visual-spatial and social deficits of children with NVLD have been shown to worsen with age (Casey, Rourke and Picard, 1991). This dissertation study investigated the relation between these four constructs (i.e., visual-spatial skills, social perception, social skills, and internalized emotional functioning). It was hypothesized that social perception and social skills mediate the relationship between visual-spatial skills and internalized emotional functioning. In addition, these deficits were expected to increase as these children get older. As NVLD and AS are commonly co-morbid with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity DisorderPredominantly Inattentive Type (ADHD: PI; Gross-Tsur & Shalev, 1995; Voeller, 1996), this diagnostic group was compared to children diagnosed with ADHD: PI. An additional aim of this study was to differentiate the classification of Learning Disability (LD) by demonstrating the socioemotional functioning differences between individuals with NVLD/ADHD: PI and their counterparts -- individuals with a Verbal Learning Disability (VLD/ADHD: PI). Seventy-one children, ranging in age from 8-14 participated in the study and were assigned to one of three groups (e.g., NVLD/AS with ADHD: PI, VLD with ADHD: PI, or ADHD: PI) based on pre-determined criteria. The NVLD/AS group, as expected, showed impairments in all areas (i.e., visual-spatial skills, social perception, social skills, and internalized socioemotional functioning) and significantly differed from one or both of the other groups on each of the four domains. Support was not found for the age effects for the NVLD/AS group. That is, visual-spatial and internalized socioemotional scores did not worsen with increasing age as expected. Also, visual-spatial skills were not significantly related to internalizing socioemotional functioning, and the hypothesized mediation variables were not statistically significant. The current study contributes to the understanding of individuals with NVLD, an under-studied population. The proposed visual-spatial skills deficits and social perception deficits in Rourke's (1989) theoretical model were supported. This study also offers some insight into the internalizing socioemotional functioning of children with NVLD. It clarifies the heterogeneity of socioemotional functioning among LD children, suggesting that it is children with the LD subtype, namely NVLD, who are at greater risk for social problems. / text