The high school dropout rate has become a critical issue nationwide. Research points to the high school transition as a stressful experience for students and identifies it as a potential contributor to the elevated dropout rate. Using the stage-environment fit theory as a framework (Eccles & Midgley, 1989; Eccles et al., 1993), this research examines the high school transition for a group of students in an urban school district. Four different school structures were used in this research. The sending schools included an elementary school (K-8) and a middle school (6-8). The receiving schools included a special admission high school and a comprehensive high school. The students were recruited from one of the two sending schools and interviewed in both eighth grade and ninth grade. Academic, behavioral and attendance records were also collected in both eighth and ninth grade. One major finding of this research was that eighth grade students enrolled at the elementary school were part of a more united community than those enrolled in the middle school. The elementary school was better able to meet student needs in interpersonal, instructional and organizational ways. These students experienced a more supportive and successful high school application process. A second major finding of this research was that when the students got to ninth grade, almost all of them reported a positive social transition while almost all of them experienced an academic decline. Students’ interpersonal needs were a priority to them, above their organizational and instructional needs. Additionally, the schools were unable to meet students’ instructional needs and thus were unable to provide a developmentally responsive environment to foster their academic success. / Educational Administration

No description available.

Adolescence is a period of social, physical, and neurobiological transitions that may leave individuals more vulnerable to the development of adjustment problems such as internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. Extant research demonstrates how self-regulation can predict adjustment outcomes in adolescence; however, it has yet to be examined how longitudinal growth in self-regulation may predict individual differences in symptomatology. That is, adolescents who develop self-regulatory capacities such as executive functioning (EF; including shifting, working memory, and inhibitory control) more slowly than their peers may be at increased risk for maladjustment. Data were collected from 167 adolescents and their primary caregiver over approximately three years. At each time point, adolescents completed three behavioral tasks that capture the underlying dimensions of EF, and both adolescents and their primary caregiver completed measures of adolescent symptomatology. Parallel process growth curve modeling was used to test the associations between initial levels and trajectories of both EF and adjustment. Results did not reveal any significant associations between initial levels of EF and adjustment or between growth in EF and growth in adjustment. Furthermore, there were no differential associations between the different EF dimensions. However, post-hoc analyses revealed that longitudinal increases in growth of EF predicted lower externalizing (but not internalizing) symptomatology at Time 3 (controlling for Time 1). Findings suggest that those with more rapid EF development may be better able to regulate behavioral and affective states and thus be less likely to develop externalizing symptoms, and that both early levels and growth in EF may be important predictors of adolescent outcomes. / Master of Science / Adolescence is a period of social, physical, and neurobiological transitions that may leave individuals more vulnerable to the development of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, aggression, and delinquency. Self-regulation affects these outcomes in adolescence; however, individuals demonstrate growth in self-regulation abilities at different rates. Thus, the current study sought to examine how differences in self-regulation (specifically, executive functioning (EF)) development over time may contribute to different behavioral and emotional symptoms in adolescence. Data were collected from 167 adolescents and their primary caregiver over approximately three years. At each time point, adolescents completed three behavioral tasks that capture EF, and both adolescents and their primary caregiver completed measures of adolescent symptoms. Results showed that there were no significant associations between initial levels of EF and symptoms, or between growth in EF and growth in symptoms. Furthermore, different aspects of EF (such as memory, attention, and inhibitory control) did not differentially predict symptomatology. However, additional analyses revealed that increases in growth of EF over time predicted lower symptoms of aggression and delinquency at Time 3. Findings suggest that those with more rapid EF development may be better able to regulate behavioral and emotional states and thus be less likely to develop these types of symptoms, and that both early levels and growth in EF may be important predictors of adolescent outcomes.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 adolescent girls (7 sister pairs) between the ages of 13 and 18 years to examine disclosure between adolescent sisters. The content of disclosures between sisters focused on relationships, particularly those with boys, family, and peers. Participants described childhood relationships as play-oriented, whereas adolescent relationships were marked by less overall interaction but more talk. They identified their sisters' ability to understand, be nonjudgmental, and be trustworthy as facilitating disclosure. The possibility that a sister may breach confidentiality through gossip or tattling, however, may limit disclosure. Participants perceived disclosure to bring them closer, to help them understand each other, and to highlight differences between them. Although disclsoure was perceived to be important, participants also valued companionship and playfulness in their relationships Perspectives and opinions of each sister within a dyad were generally congruent. Findings suggested an association between disclosure and closeness. Directions for future research are suggested / Master of Science

Research suggests that as children reach adolescence teasing is a common experience with negative consequences, usually focused on the physical appearance of peers. This study aimed to identify variables that may place children at risk for negatively interpreting and being more adversely impacted by teasing incidents. Students from two middle schools were randomly assigned to view videotaped vignettes of appearance-related teasing, competency teasing, or a no teasing control video. Students completed questionnaires to assess their effective and cognitive reactions, as well as their subjective evaluation of the teasing incidents. Results indicated that females perceived and reacted to both types of teasing more negatively than males. Females recalled appearance-related teasing phrases more readily than competency teasing phrases from the videotaped teasing, suggesting that females may process appearance-related teasing at a deeper level than competency teasing. The findings indicate that cognitive theory may serve as an important foundation for studying adolescents' interpretation of teasing.

The purpose of this study was to explore the psychosocial phenomena of self-esteem in relation to gucose control in diabetic adolescent girls living in the Inland Empire. Three central themes emerged: body image, peer acceptance, and stress.

Thesis (doctoral)--La Salle University, 2003. / ProQuest dissertations and theses ; AAT 3108287. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 40-52).

The current study examined the possibility of using cluster analysis to classify attachment styles in middle childhood. Attachment classifications were measured by looking at child coping strategies and perceived maternal behavior. The attachment classification was then tested for construct validity by examining whether it can predict adjustment outcomes in interpretable patterns. The adjustment outcomes examined were a self-reported global self-worth scale and peer-reported internalizing and externalizing behaviors measured using a Peer Nomination Inventory. The current study had 199 third through eight graders and provided evidence for the cluster analysis approach and also showed that the disorganized attachment was associated with the most adverse adjustment outcomes. That is, results showed that disorganized attachment was linked with the lowest levels of global self-worth and the highest rates of internalizing and externalizing behaviors and was significantly different from the securely attached cluster on each measure. The implications and possible underlying causes are discussed. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015 / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The study was designed to explore and describe the relationship between young adults' sense of meaning and purpose in life and the experience of depression. The relationship between the existential constructs of meaning and purpose in life, assessed using Reker's (1992) Life Attitude Profile - Revised (LAP-R) instrument, and depression, assessed using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), was explored in young adults.

Text in Afrikaans / Die studie handel oor die persoonlikheidsamestelling van die beskeie leerling in die senior sekondere skoolfase. Twee sienings van beskeidenheid blyk uit die literatuur, naamlik beskeidenheid as 'n deug en beskeidenheid as manifestasie van innerlike onsekerheid. Daar is in diepte gekyk na beskeidenheid as persoonlikheidseienskap en die invloed van beskeidenheid op die relasievorming en selfaktualisering van die kind. Beskeidenheid gaan gepaard met persoonlikheidseienskappe soos terughoudendheid, beskroomdheid, geinhibeerdheid, ontoereikende assertiwiteit en vry van aanmatiging en dit behels 'n onvermoe tot selfbevordering. Verder manifesteer sake soos sosiale angstigheid, openbare selfbewustheid, vrees vir sukses en swak selfevaluering ook in beskeidenheid. Die leerling se relasievorming en selfaktualisering word deur beskeidenheid gekortwiek. Die Hoerskool Persoonlikheidsvraelys is in 'n empiriese ondersoek op 'n aantal standerd 9-leerlinge afgeneem. Geen tipiese perrsoonlikheidsprofiel kon vir beskeidenheid saamgestel word nie. 'n Aantal persoonlikheidseienskappe wat met beskeidenheid verband kan hou, het egter in die ondersoek na vore gekom. / This study concerns the personality composition of the modest pupil in the senior secondary school. Two views of modesty are discussed in the literature, namely that it is a virtue and that it is a sign of inner uncertainty. An in-depth study is made of modesty as a personality characteristic and its influence on the pupil's relationship formation and self-actualisation. Modesty is associated with such personality characteristics as reserve, timidity, inhibition, unassertiveness and lack of arrogance. It implies an inability to promote oneself. Modesty is also a manifestation of social anxiety, self-conciousness, a fear of success and low self-evaluation. It handicaps the relationship formation and self-actualisation of pupils. The High School Personality Questionnaire was administered to a group of Standard 9 pupils in an empirical study. No typical personality profile could be compiled for modest pupils. Several personality 'characteristics emerged from the study which may be associated with modesty. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (met spesialisering in Voorligting)