The United States has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates among developed countries and ranks third overall in rates of teen pregnancy out of thirty countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperative Development, OECD (UNICEF, 2007). However, as a country we are spending an enormous amount of money on teen pregnancy prevention programs. For example, the Office of Adolescent Health has implemented grant funding opportunities for teen pregnancy prevention programs and provides approximately $105 million to states to design these programs. These programs include personal responsibility education and abstinence only education (http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/oah-initiatives/tpp). If we are spending this much on these programs, why do we still have one of the highest teen pregnancy rates among developed countries? Based on what we have learned from current prevention efforts, the goal of this dissertation is two-fold, to introduce alternative theoretical approaches for prevention design and test determinants and protective factors of sexual risk-taking in adolescence. To obtain these goals, this dissertation was written using the three paper option that contains a theoretical paper and two empirical papers that test hypotheses of determinants of sexual risk-taking in adolescence and possible factors that protect youth from engaging in sexual risk-taking, such as school-wide communication and sexual education. The theoretical paper introduces alternative theoretical approaches to not only target individual behavior that may be risky, but also target the contextual constraints in which teens are operating. The empirical papers analyze possible determinants and protective factors for sexual risk-taking in youth.

Despite decades of research on environmental behavior, it is unknown how various political actors aid in the development of ecological citizenship (EC). The purpose of this correlational study was to determine the relationship between environmental worldview (NEP) and willingness to take action (WTTA) among political actors within 5 states: Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The overarching research question examined how EC can be increased within the 5-state region by identifying the similarities and differences in NEP and WTTA between state legislators, state partners, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model provided the theoretical framework for the study. Out of 1,800 invited participants, 117 state legislators, 328 formal partnership directors, and 237 NGO administrators from the 5-state region participated in an online survey that measured their NEP, WTTA, and endorsement of EC principles. Nearly 20% of all respondents endorsed EC indicated by a high NEP and a high WTTA. Results of correlational analyses found a significant positive relationship between NEP and WTTA for each group. Further regression analysis found variation in group WTTA attributable to NEP varied from 32% for partnership directors and 36% for NGO administrators to 61% for state legislators. These findings indicated that EC can be affected by both private and public stakeholders. The implications for positive social change include demonstrating how state governments, in partnership with NGOs and other agencies, can increase EC within their states, and how improved partnerships can increase local opportunities to foster EC.

Previous research suggests that parents can benefit from youth participation in after-school programs. However, little research has explored parent involvement in after-school programs as an important program characteristic leading to youth development. Bioecological Systems Theory suggests that individuals are influenced by the interactions of others within their environment. Building from this theory, it was posited that parent benefits resulting from involvement in after-school programs can facilitate positive youth development. Surveys were completed by 117 parents whose daughters participated in the Cool Girls, Inc. after-school program, a program serving primarily low-income, African American, urban youth. Using Exploratory Factor Analysis, a three factor structure of parent benefits was identified. Parent benefits include increased (1) parent-child communication, (2) parent social capital, and (3) parent-school involvement. A fourth parent benefit of help for working parents was identified in subsequent analyses using a smaller sample of only working parents (n = 86). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that more parent after-school program involvement was associated with increases in each of the four parent benefits. As predicted, each of the four parent benefits mediated the association between parent involvement in after-school programs and parent reported changes in positive youth development outcomes due to participation in Cool Girls, Inc. These results suggest the importance of further research into ways parents benefit from their child’s participation in after-school programs and how those benefits can influence youth developmental trajectories. These findings also demonstrate the importance of involving parents in after-school programs.

Health risk behaviors are responsible for the majority of morbidity and mortality among adolescents. Researchers have identified three sources of risk-taking in adolescents – dispositional, ecological and biological. The Bioecological Model incorporates these three sources of risk-taking, however it lacks explanatory power. For this reason, this thesis focused on explaining risk perception of health risk behaviors (smoking cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use), and health risk behaviors by integrating the Bioecological Model with a more specific Health Belief Model. The relationship between risk perception and health risk behavior was also investigated as a first step in understanding adolescent decision-making using the Health Belief Model. Adolescents from a suburban Indiana area were asked to complete the Adolescent Health Risk Behavior Survey which assessed egocentrism, self-esteem, social norms, risk perceptions, and the incidence and prevalence of health endangering behaviors. Hierarchical linear regression was used to determine the ability of the systems in the Bioecological Model and their specific variables to explain risk perception of health risk behaviors. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to determine the ability of the systems in the Bioecological Model and their specific variables to explain health risk behaviors and to moderate the relationships between risk perception and health risk behaviors. Based on the results, it was confirmed that the Bioecological Model is important in understanding adolescent’s risk perception of health risk behaviors, and their self-reported health risk behaviors. It is also important in understanding the relationship between risk perception and health risk behaviors. Adolescent Variables, Microsystem, and Mesosystem were significant in predicting adolescent risk perception of all health risk behaviors examined, and self-reported smoking cigarette behavior and marijuana use. Adolescent variables and Microsystem were the only systems to predict adolescent self-reported alcohol use. The relationship between risk perception and reported smoking cigarette behavior was moderated by Adolescent Variables, Microsystem and Mesosystem, however for alcohol use the path was moderated by Adolescent Variables and for marijuana use the path was moderated by the Mesosytem. Results of this thesis imply the importance of considering the contribution of Bioecological Model variables when implementing prevention intervention programs specific to adolescent health risk behaviors.

This research included male adolescents living on the U.S./Mexico border and the possible effects of a LD and racial and ethnic identification on support seeking behaviour within a bioecological framework. A sample of 34 male Caucasian, Hispanic and Latino students with and without a LD were recruited from two school sites in separate states in the southwest United States. Participants completed a social support questionnaire, selecting support options for managing various life stressors common to adolescents. Research yielded contradicting results from previous explorations of Hispanic and Latino social support behaviours. A one-way ANOVA found no significant differences between the four groups. Independent t-tests clustered students based on racial and ethnic identification with no significant differences. Significant differences were found between LD and non-LD groups in their choice of teachers, with students with a LD being significantly less likely to select teachers for support. In contrast to past research, Caucasian participants were more than twice as likely to select nobody for social support, and less likely to select their parent/guardian, peer/friend, sibling, or teacher for support. Future research should focus on students who are of community and school minority in various contexts across time to gain a more holistic understanding of social support seeking behaviour. / Graduate

[pt] O estudo teve como objetivo investigar à luz da Teoria Bioecológica do Desenvolvimento Humano que fatores impactaram de forma positiva o desenvolvimento de estudantes universitários diagnosticados com TDAH, que os fizeram alcançar e cursar o ensino superior. Participaram da pesquisa 10 estudantes de graduação de uma universidade privada do Rio de Janeiro. Os dados foram produzidos por meio de entrevista semiestruturada no contexto da própria universidade. As análises foram realizadas com uma abordagem qualitativa de análise de conteúdo. As categorias e subcategorias foram construídas a partir do que emergiu dos dados das entrevistas, considerando-se o modelo PPCT (Processo, Pessoa, Contexto, Tempo), característico das pesquisas aportadas no modelo Bioecológico. Os dados apontaram para um conjunto de fatores que impactaram positivamente a trajetória acadêmica desse grupo de estudantes, seja para a chegada à universidade, seja para lá permanecer, seja para ambos. Durante todo o ensino básico, os fatores foram: (a) um ambiente escolar atraente, acolhedor e incentivador; (b) uma sala de aula organizada, com poucos alunos, apresentando a possibilidade de diálogo entre os pares e professores; (c) mediação da aprendizagem com: os professores contratados pelos pais para reforço escolar, os familiares, os colegas de sala de aula e, os professores da escola durante a recuperação e; (d) as inciativas parentais que ajudaram a direcionar o percurso acadêmico. No ensino superior os fatores ressaltados pelos estudantes foram: (a) o tempo estendido para realização das avaliações e; (b) o suporte pedagógico, psicológico e psicopedagógico oferecido pela instituição de ensino. E durante toda a trajetória acadêmica, ou seja, da educação infantil até o ensino superior fatores como: (a) diagnóstico, (b) tratamento medicamentoso e/ou psicoterapêutico; (c) estratégias metacognitivas; (d) características do professor como ser atencioso e explicar devagar e de várias formas; (e) características pessoais; (f) identificação com o professor; (g) suporte afetivo familiar e escolar e; (h) socialização, foram os elementos que, segundo eles, trouxeram benefícios para suas trajetórias. Os resultados nos permitiram inferir que no contexto dessas trajetórias não existe um protocolo a ser seguido para que haja sucesso acadêmico de estudantes diagnosticados com TDAH. Conclui-se, entretanto que, os entrevistados deram indicações simples, porém relevantes sobre alguns aspectos que, se colocados em prática, podem contribuir grandemente para o desenvolvimento acadêmico de todos os discentes; não importando se têm algum diagnóstico ou não. Porém, entende-se que se existir por parte da família, da escola e da sociedade, atitudes que busquem destacar e fortalecer as características e habilidades particulares desses estudantes reduzindo a força da patologização, os resultados poderão ser melhores. Que para além dos estereótipos macrossistêmicos da sociedade contemporânea, que enfatizam deficiências e prejuízos, assim como um discurso determinista de fracasso acadêmico de estudantes diagnosticados com TDAH, que haja um olhar direcionado para o que eles pensam, o que conseguem realizar e o modo como aprendem. Por fim, recomenda-se a reflexão sobre o desenvolvimento de metodologias de ensino e aprendizagem que possam ser aplicadas na escola e fora do espaço escolar, de maneira que essa relação ocorra de maneira mais fluida e que abarque as diversas modalidades de aprendizagem, independente de diagnósticos. / [en] The objective of this study was to investigate, from the perspective of Bronfenbrenner s Bioecological Model of Human Development the factors that impact the development of university students diagnosed with ADHD so that they achieve success in admission to an undergraduate school. A total of 10 undergraduate students from a private university in Brazil took part in the study. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview carried out at the University. The analyses used the qualitative approach of content analysis. The categories and subcategories were built based on PPCT (Process, Person, Context, Time) which is a part of Bronfenbrenner s model. The results pointed to a positive trajectory for these students, be it for getting admitted into college, for remaining there, or for both. When looking at their basic and high school educational trajectory, we found that the presence of a few factors stood out in the data, such as (a) an attractive school that is welcoming and encouraging; (b) a structured classroom, with few students, which allows for ample interchange among students and between them and their teachers; (c) the mediation of learning by teachers hired by the parents as teaching aids, by family members, classroom mates and school teachers and; (d) parents initiatives in helping them gear their academic development towards a successful one. As for their college history the influencing factors encountered where: (a) extra time for tests and; (b) pedagogical, psychological, and academic support. When looking at their academic trajectory as a whole, that is, from early childhood education up to college, the factors to which students attributed their success were: (a) having had or not a diagnosis; (b) medicinal and/or psychotherapy treatment; (c) metacognitive strategies; (d) teachers characteristics – thoughtful and caring in explaining concepts slowly and using different methods; (e) personal characteristics; (f) identifying themselves with the teacher/professor; (g) family and school support and; (h) socialization.The results lead us to infer that in the context of these students academic history, there is no set protocol that can be followed that will ensure academic success. We saw that students gave us pointers which nonetheless were relevant, if considered as a practice that can greatly contribute to their development, whether or not they have been diagnosed. However, it is our understanding that if there are attitudes and actions from the part of the family, the school and society that highlight and strengthen the individual characteristics and abilities of such students, thus reducing the power of pathologizing, we should see a better outcome. We also understand that, beyond the macrosystemic stereotypes from today s society which emphasize deficiencies and impairments, as well as a deterministic discourse of school failure for students diagnosed with ADHD, one should focus instead on how those students think, what they can actually accomplish and how they learn. Finally, we recommend that more resources be allocated to the development of learning and teaching methods that can be applied in school, as well as in other contexts, so that the process can be smoother, including different modalities of learning, whether or not there is a diagnosis for the student.

Esta dissertação teve como objetivos conhecer a opinião de crianças angolanas a respeito de suas escolas, investigar como é a escola dos seus sonhos e averiguar como os direitos da criança estão sendo acolhidos nessas instituições. Para tanto foi realizado um estudo que englobou o sistema de ensino público primário do país, representado por 15 escolas localizadas em cinco províncias angolanas. As crianças participaram de entrevistas em grupo e o método utilizado foi a inserção ecológica. A análise dos dados foi realizada com base na Teoria Bioecológica do Desenvolvimento Humano e os resultados indicaram que as interações de crianças, professores, diretores e escolas são caracterizadas por desequilíbrio de poder e autoritarismo e, por isso, carecem de reciprocidade. A escola dos sonhos das crianças é um local com condições mínimas de infraestrutura, no qual se sentem acolhidas e respeitadas. A promoção e o respeito aos direitos da criança ainda são incipientes em Angola de maneira geral e nas escolas em particular. / This dissertation aimed to know the opinion of Angolan children with respect to their schools, investigate how the school of their dreams is and to verify how children’s rights are received in those institutions. This study encompassed Angola’s public primary education system, represented by 15 schools located in five Angolan provinces. The children participated in group interviews and the method used during data collection was the ecological engagement. Data analysis was done through the Bioecological Theory of Human Development and the results indicate that the interaction among children, teachers, directors and schools are characterized by the imbalance of power and authoritarianism, reason why the relationship lacks reciprocity. Children’s dream school is a place with minimal infrastructure where they feel welcomed and respected. In general, the promotion and respect to children’s rights are still incipient in Angola, especially in schools.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-09-04Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:12:35Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 tomaino_gc_me_arafcl.pdf: 423303 bytes, checksum: 7c636eab8744230e20b0d0ffcaaa3d0a (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A presente pesquisa adota como referencial teórico a perspectiva bioecológica de Bronfenbrenner. De acordo com o pressuposto, os contextos são salientados como importantes influências para o desenvolvimento humano no decorrer do ciclo vital, resultado da função conjunta das características da pessoa e dos processos proximais que se estabelecem nesses ambientes. Os objetivos da pesquisa foram constituídos das descrições das trajetórias escolares de alunos oriundos de ambientes institucionalizados e incluídos em escolas regulares, especificadamente em uma sala de aula do segmento da EJA e a elaboração de uma análise comparativa entre os dois ambientes destacados nas descrições, a partir das concepções dos alunos com deficiência e as perspectivas de seus familiares e professoras sobre o processo de inclusão escolar. Os participantes foram seis alunos com deficiência egressos de instituições e que estavam frequentando a EJA, seis familiares e quatro professoras sendo que duas ministram aulas de língua portuguesa na sala da EJA e duas são professoras da sala de recursos, especializadas em Educação Especial. Os instrumentos utilizados foram três roteiros de entrevistas semi estruturado. Os dados da pesquisa foram aglutinados em quatro categorias de análise: 1)Descrição do ambiente escolar 2) Aprendizagem 3) Relação família-escola 4) Processo de inclusão, todos subdivididos em tópicos temáticos que descrevem os dois contextos destacados. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que os alunos e seus familiares não reconheciam a terminologia “inclusão escolar” e tão sua aplicabilidade, os participantes estabelecem comparações estruturais entre um ambiente e outro, pois de acordo com os dados ficou perceptível que o ambiente das instituições de acordo com as relações estabelecidas e a rotina das atividades oferecia maiores oportunidades de socialização... / The present research adopts the bioecological perspective of Bronfenbrenner as theoretical reference. According to its tenet, the contexts are regarded as important influences for human development throughout the life cycle, which is the result of the combined functions of the individual’s characteristics and the nearby processes that are set in such environments. The goals of the research were set from the descriptions of school backgrounds of students who come from institutionalized environments and who are included in regular schools, particularly in classrooms of the EJA segment, and also from the constitution of a comparative analysis between the two environments which are highlighted in the descriptions taken from disabled students’ conceptions and their relatives and teachers’ perspectives about the inclusive school process. As for the participants, we had six disabled students coming from random institutions who were attending the EJA, as well as six relatives and four teachers, the two of whom were teaching Portuguese at EJA’s classroom while the other two, who are specialized in Special Education, work as teachers of the learning resource center. The instruments used in the research were three semi-structured scripted interviews. The collected data were merged into four analytic categories: 1) Description of the school environment 2) Learning 3) School – family rapport 4) Inclusive Process, all of which subdivided into thematic topics that describe the two highlighted contexts. The obtained results revealed that the students and their relatives were neither familiar with the “inclusive school” terminology nor with its applicability. The participants established structural comparisons between the two environments and, according to the data, it was noticeable that the environment of the institutions offered more socializing opportunities because of the established... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Silvia Regina Ricco Lucato Sigolo / Banca: Ana Lucia Aiello / Banca: Roseli Aparecida Parizzi / Resumo: A presente pesquisa adota como referencial teórico a perspectiva bioecológica de Bronfenbrenner. De acordo com o pressuposto, os contextos são salientados como importantes influências para o desenvolvimento humano no decorrer do ciclo vital, resultado da função conjunta das características da pessoa e dos processos proximais que se estabelecem nesses ambientes. Os objetivos da pesquisa foram constituídos das descrições das trajetórias escolares de alunos oriundos de ambientes institucionalizados e incluídos em escolas regulares, especificadamente em uma sala de aula do segmento da EJA e a elaboração de uma análise comparativa entre os dois ambientes destacados nas descrições, a partir das concepções dos alunos com deficiência e as perspectivas de seus familiares e professoras sobre o processo de inclusão escolar. Os participantes foram seis alunos com deficiência egressos de instituições e que estavam frequentando a EJA, seis familiares e quatro professoras sendo que duas ministram aulas de língua portuguesa na sala da EJA e duas são professoras da sala de recursos, especializadas em Educação Especial. Os instrumentos utilizados foram três roteiros de entrevistas semi estruturado. Os dados da pesquisa foram aglutinados em quatro categorias de análise: 1)Descrição do ambiente escolar 2) Aprendizagem 3) Relação família-escola 4) Processo de inclusão, todos subdivididos em tópicos temáticos que descrevem os dois contextos destacados. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que os alunos e seus familiares não reconheciam a terminologia "inclusão escolar" e tão sua aplicabilidade, os participantes estabelecem comparações estruturais entre um ambiente e outro, pois de acordo com os dados ficou perceptível que o ambiente das instituições de acordo com as relações estabelecidas e a rotina das atividades oferecia maiores oportunidades de socialização... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The present research adopts the bioecological perspective of Bronfenbrenner as theoretical reference. According to its tenet, the contexts are regarded as important influences for human development throughout the life cycle, which is the result of the combined functions of the individual's characteristics and the nearby processes that are set in such environments. The goals of the research were set from the descriptions of school backgrounds of students who come from institutionalized environments and who are included in regular schools, particularly in classrooms of the EJA segment, and also from the constitution of a comparative analysis between the two environments which are highlighted in the descriptions taken from disabled students' conceptions and their relatives and teachers' perspectives about the inclusive school process. As for the participants, we had six disabled students coming from random institutions who were attending the EJA, as well as six relatives and four teachers, the two of whom were teaching Portuguese at EJA's classroom while the other two, who are specialized in Special Education, work as teachers of the learning resource center. The instruments used in the research were three semi-structured scripted interviews. The collected data were merged into four analytic categories: 1) Description of the school environment 2) Learning 3) School - family rapport 4) Inclusive Process, all of which subdivided into thematic topics that describe the two highlighted contexts. The obtained results revealed that the students and their relatives were neither familiar with the "inclusive school" terminology nor with its applicability. The participants established structural comparisons between the two environments and, according to the data, it was noticeable that the environment of the institutions offered more socializing opportunities because of the established... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Esta dissertação teve como objetivos conhecer a opinião de crianças angolanas a respeito de suas escolas, investigar como é a escola dos seus sonhos e averiguar como os direitos da criança estão sendo acolhidos nessas instituições. Para tanto foi realizado um estudo que englobou o sistema de ensino público primário do país, representado por 15 escolas localizadas em cinco províncias angolanas. As crianças participaram de entrevistas em grupo e o método utilizado foi a inserção ecológica. A análise dos dados foi realizada com base na Teoria Bioecológica do Desenvolvimento Humano e os resultados indicaram que as interações de crianças, professores, diretores e escolas são caracterizadas por desequilíbrio de poder e autoritarismo e, por isso, carecem de reciprocidade. A escola dos sonhos das crianças é um local com condições mínimas de infraestrutura, no qual se sentem acolhidas e respeitadas. A promoção e o respeito aos direitos da criança ainda são incipientes em Angola de maneira geral e nas escolas em particular. / This dissertation aimed to know the opinion of Angolan children with respect to their schools, investigate how the school of their dreams is and to verify how children’s rights are received in those institutions. This study encompassed Angola’s public primary education system, represented by 15 schools located in five Angolan provinces. The children participated in group interviews and the method used during data collection was the ecological engagement. Data analysis was done through the Bioecological Theory of Human Development and the results indicate that the interaction among children, teachers, directors and schools are characterized by the imbalance of power and authoritarianism, reason why the relationship lacks reciprocity. Children’s dream school is a place with minimal infrastructure where they feel welcomed and respected. In general, the promotion and respect to children’s rights are still incipient in Angola, especially in schools.