Thesis advisor: Maria E. Brisk / While traditional multicultural education has advanced school personnel's cultural awareness and the implementation of multicultural curricula, it can also perpetuate stereotypes of certain cultural groups by overstating the role of culture. The widely held stereotypes of Chinese immigrants as super-achievers and a "model minority" may dangerously hide the problems that many Chinese immigrant families face upon immigrating. In this dissertation, I share findings generated from the narrative inquiry of sixteen Chinese immigrant parents. The study was to uncover multiple realities related to the parenting experiences constructed by Chinese immigrant parents in their given social, cultural, and personal circumstances. Guiding this inquiry is the bioecological model, which provides an overarching framework to address all the factors that possibly influence immigrants' parenting. With a focus on critical events, data collected from multiple open-ended interviews and documents were presented in two ways: case-focused narrative analysis and cross-case thematic analysis. The findings show that Chinese immigrants are a diverse group, with each individual's parental beliefs and practices influenced by multiple personal and contextual factors. All the factors interacted through complex processes occurring at various levels within the parents' ecological environments between the two cultures. In addition, several issues related to Chinese immigrant families were exposed from the parents' narratives that have not been well researched so far, including: subgroup differences, the influence of marital discord as a result of immigration on child development, the role of religion change on parenting, and grandparents as major childcare giver. At a theoretical level, notions of the continuum of common cultural values, and the continuum of enculturation and acculturation provide a fluid and dynamic theoretical lens to better understanding immigrants' in-between cultural values. I suggest that school personnel and social workers work towards eliminating pre-assumptions about any cultural group, attending to each child's unique identity without over-emphasizing the role of culture. Furthermore, schools need to take efforts to build effective and reciprocal relationships with immigrant families to better address the immigrant students' individual needs. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Teacher Education, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction.

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.

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.

The intention-behavior gap between receiving professional health information and transitioning to improved health behaviors prior to conception is not well understood. In order to improve preconception health across the board, a more integrative understanding of the problem must present itself. This study combined elements from the theory of planned behavior, self-determination theory, and the bioecological model of human development as it's foundation. Qualitative phenomenology and semistructured face-to-face interviews were used to gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which nine overweight and obese women described preconception intentions and beliefs and the bioecological experiences leading to those beliefs. Interpretation of the results suggested socio-environmental conditions that affect the development of beliefs, intentions, and attitudes toward preconception health. Key discoveries regarding planning intention and behavior included laissez faire attitudes toward preconception planning, advice-seeking methods, perceived need to change behaviors, and ability to navigate the healthcare system and social programs. Future recommendations include using the more complex bioecological view to improve the global preconception health imperative. This study's potential for positive social change includes opportunities to hold important conversations about preconception health by disseminating study results locally and the expansion of knowledge in a field dedicated to the improvement of women and infant health worldwide through publication.

No description available.

O presente estudo, apoiado no Modelo Bioecológico de Desenvolvimento Humano (BRONFENBRENNER, 2005), investigou em três diferentes subculturas do Nordeste do Brasil (semiárido, serra e litoral) (1) como desempenho motor e escolar de crianças é afetado pelos contextos em que vivem; (2) como essas características pessoais afetam a maneira como o contexto é vivenciado pelas crianças; e (3) o que muda nos recursos pessoais das crianças e no macrossistema com a criação de um novo microssistema promotor de desenvolvimento (Projeto de Intervenção Pedagógico-Motora). Este estudo de delineamento quantitativo e qualitativo. O Test of Gross Motor Development – Second Edition (ULRICH. 2000) e o Teste de Desempenho Escolar (STEIN, 1994) foram utilizados para avaliar o desempenho motor e escolar dos participantes. A parte qualitativa do estudo fez uso de observação assistemática não participante e participante (FLICK, 2009) e entrevistas utilizando o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo (LEFEVRE; LEFEVRE, 2005) como metodologia. Os resultados revelam que mais de 90% dos participantes demostravam desempenho motor inferior ao percentil 5 (categorizado como muito pobre) e que 70,6 % desempenho escolar inferior. Tais atrasos estão possivelmente associados a (1) omissão do macrossistema (Legislação e Sistema de Crenças) que repercute em falta de oportunidades no microssistema escola; (2) ausência de uma proposta pedagógica para promover o desenvolvimento motor nas escolas e nos projetos sociais; e, (3) baixa capacitação docente são responsáveis pelos atrasos motores. Os atrasos motores afetam o estilo de vida das crianças e a forma como estas transitam em outros contextos, reduzindo sua possibilidade de intercâmbio social. Quanto ao impacto interventivo a General Linear Model com medidas repetidas no fator tempo revelou uma interação significativa entre o Grupo X Tempo nos três contextos: semiárido, serrano e litorâneo. As crianças participantes do programa de intervenção motora evidenciaram mudanças significativas no desempenho motor enquanto que para as crianças do grupo controle mudanças significativas não foram observadas. Em relação ao desempenho escolar, o teste de Wilcoxon revelou que mudanças positivas e significativas ao longo do tempo eram mais evidentes para crianças assistidas por ações das Secretarias de Educação e das Escolas do que as ações desenvolvidas nos Projetos Sociais Esportivos. Os resultados qualitativos observacionais e referente aos Discursos do Sujeito Coletivo suportam o entendimento que somente a implantação de microssistemas com apoio do poder público podem influenciar positivamente as características pessoais das crianças bem como o sistema de crença vigente na cultura em que estas crianças se desenvolvem. / The present study, supported by the Bioecological Model of Human Development (BRONFENBRENNER, 2005), investigated in three different subcultures (Semiarid, Serrano and Seacoast) (1) how children motor and school performance were influenced by the environment; (2) how individualperformance level influence the way that the environment is experienced by the children; and (3) the changes in children individual characteristics and in the macrosystem as consequence of the a new microsystem capable of promote development (Program of Intervention Motor- Pedagogical). The study design was quantitative and qualitative and employed qualiquantitative. The Test of Gross Motor Development – Second Edition (ULRICH. 2000) and the Test of School Performance (STEIN, 1994) was used. The qualitative analyses included the unsystematic non-participant-observation (FLICK, 2009) and interviews using as method the Individual Collective Discourse (LEFEVRE; LEFEVRE, 2005). The results reveled that more than 90% of the participants demonstrated motor development inferior percentile 5 (categorized as very poor) and that 70,6 % showed inferior school performance. Those delays were probably associated with (1) the macrosytem omission (legislation and belief system) as consequence a lack of opportunities in the school microsystem was observed; (2) lack of pedagogical planningto promote motor development in the school system and in the social projects; and, (3) poor teacher training. Regardless to the intervention impact the General Linear Model with repeated measures in the time factor reveled a significant interaction, Group X Time,in the three environments (Semiarid, Serrano and Seacoast). Children from the intervention program showed positive and significant changes in motor performance whereas for the children in the control group those changes were not observed. Concern with school performance, the Wilcoxon test showed that the positive and significant changes along the intervention time were more evident in the group of children assisted for the local educational board and social projects.The results qualitativeobservations and the analysis of the Individual Collective Discourse provided support to the understand that only the implementation of microsystem with governmental support will be to influence positively the children individual characteristics as well as the system of beliefs prevalent in the culture that those children are developing.

O presente estudo, apoiado no Modelo Bioecológico de Desenvolvimento Humano (BRONFENBRENNER, 2005), investigou em três diferentes subculturas do Nordeste do Brasil (semiárido, serra e litoral) (1) como desempenho motor e escolar de crianças é afetado pelos contextos em que vivem; (2) como essas características pessoais afetam a maneira como o contexto é vivenciado pelas crianças; e (3) o que muda nos recursos pessoais das crianças e no macrossistema com a criação de um novo microssistema promotor de desenvolvimento (Projeto de Intervenção Pedagógico-Motora). Este estudo de delineamento quantitativo e qualitativo. O Test of Gross Motor Development – Second Edition (ULRICH. 2000) e o Teste de Desempenho Escolar (STEIN, 1994) foram utilizados para avaliar o desempenho motor e escolar dos participantes. A parte qualitativa do estudo fez uso de observação assistemática não participante e participante (FLICK, 2009) e entrevistas utilizando o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo (LEFEVRE; LEFEVRE, 2005) como metodologia. Os resultados revelam que mais de 90% dos participantes demostravam desempenho motor inferior ao percentil 5 (categorizado como muito pobre) e que 70,6 % desempenho escolar inferior. Tais atrasos estão possivelmente associados a (1) omissão do macrossistema (Legislação e Sistema de Crenças) que repercute em falta de oportunidades no microssistema escola; (2) ausência de uma proposta pedagógica para promover o desenvolvimento motor nas escolas e nos projetos sociais; e, (3) baixa capacitação docente são responsáveis pelos atrasos motores. Os atrasos motores afetam o estilo de vida das crianças e a forma como estas transitam em outros contextos, reduzindo sua possibilidade de intercâmbio social. Quanto ao impacto interventivo a General Linear Model com medidas repetidas no fator tempo revelou uma interação significativa entre o Grupo X Tempo nos três contextos: semiárido, serrano e litorâneo. As crianças participantes do programa de intervenção motora evidenciaram mudanças significativas no desempenho motor enquanto que para as crianças do grupo controle mudanças significativas não foram observadas. Em relação ao desempenho escolar, o teste de Wilcoxon revelou que mudanças positivas e significativas ao longo do tempo eram mais evidentes para crianças assistidas por ações das Secretarias de Educação e das Escolas do que as ações desenvolvidas nos Projetos Sociais Esportivos. Os resultados qualitativos observacionais e referente aos Discursos do Sujeito Coletivo suportam o entendimento que somente a implantação de microssistemas com apoio do poder público podem influenciar positivamente as características pessoais das crianças bem como o sistema de crença vigente na cultura em que estas crianças se desenvolvem. / The present study, supported by the Bioecological Model of Human Development (BRONFENBRENNER, 2005), investigated in three different subcultures (Semiarid, Serrano and Seacoast) (1) how children motor and school performance were influenced by the environment; (2) how individualperformance level influence the way that the environment is experienced by the children; and (3) the changes in children individual characteristics and in the macrosystem as consequence of the a new microsystem capable of promote development (Program of Intervention Motor- Pedagogical). The study design was quantitative and qualitative and employed qualiquantitative. The Test of Gross Motor Development – Second Edition (ULRICH. 2000) and the Test of School Performance (STEIN, 1994) was used. The qualitative analyses included the unsystematic non-participant-observation (FLICK, 2009) and interviews using as method the Individual Collective Discourse (LEFEVRE; LEFEVRE, 2005). The results reveled that more than 90% of the participants demonstrated motor development inferior percentile 5 (categorized as very poor) and that 70,6 % showed inferior school performance. Those delays were probably associated with (1) the macrosytem omission (legislation and belief system) as consequence a lack of opportunities in the school microsystem was observed; (2) lack of pedagogical planningto promote motor development in the school system and in the social projects; and, (3) poor teacher training. Regardless to the intervention impact the General Linear Model with repeated measures in the time factor reveled a significant interaction, Group X Time,in the three environments (Semiarid, Serrano and Seacoast). Children from the intervention program showed positive and significant changes in motor performance whereas for the children in the control group those changes were not observed. Concern with school performance, the Wilcoxon test showed that the positive and significant changes along the intervention time were more evident in the group of children assisted for the local educational board and social projects.The results qualitativeobservations and the analysis of the Individual Collective Discourse provided support to the understand that only the implementation of microsystem with governmental support will be to influence positively the children individual characteristics as well as the system of beliefs prevalent in the culture that those children are developing.

O presente estudo, apoiado no Modelo Bioecológico de Desenvolvimento Humano (BRONFENBRENNER, 2005), investigou em três diferentes subculturas do Nordeste do Brasil (semiárido, serra e litoral) (1) como desempenho motor e escolar de crianças é afetado pelos contextos em que vivem; (2) como essas características pessoais afetam a maneira como o contexto é vivenciado pelas crianças; e (3) o que muda nos recursos pessoais das crianças e no macrossistema com a criação de um novo microssistema promotor de desenvolvimento (Projeto de Intervenção Pedagógico-Motora). Este estudo de delineamento quantitativo e qualitativo. O Test of Gross Motor Development – Second Edition (ULRICH. 2000) e o Teste de Desempenho Escolar (STEIN, 1994) foram utilizados para avaliar o desempenho motor e escolar dos participantes. A parte qualitativa do estudo fez uso de observação assistemática não participante e participante (FLICK, 2009) e entrevistas utilizando o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo (LEFEVRE; LEFEVRE, 2005) como metodologia. Os resultados revelam que mais de 90% dos participantes demostravam desempenho motor inferior ao percentil 5 (categorizado como muito pobre) e que 70,6 % desempenho escolar inferior. Tais atrasos estão possivelmente associados a (1) omissão do macrossistema (Legislação e Sistema de Crenças) que repercute em falta de oportunidades no microssistema escola; (2) ausência de uma proposta pedagógica para promover o desenvolvimento motor nas escolas e nos projetos sociais; e, (3) baixa capacitação docente são responsáveis pelos atrasos motores. Os atrasos motores afetam o estilo de vida das crianças e a forma como estas transitam em outros contextos, reduzindo sua possibilidade de intercâmbio social. Quanto ao impacto interventivo a General Linear Model com medidas repetidas no fator tempo revelou uma interação significativa entre o Grupo X Tempo nos três contextos: semiárido, serrano e litorâneo. As crianças participantes do programa de intervenção motora evidenciaram mudanças significativas no desempenho motor enquanto que para as crianças do grupo controle mudanças significativas não foram observadas. Em relação ao desempenho escolar, o teste de Wilcoxon revelou que mudanças positivas e significativas ao longo do tempo eram mais evidentes para crianças assistidas por ações das Secretarias de Educação e das Escolas do que as ações desenvolvidas nos Projetos Sociais Esportivos. Os resultados qualitativos observacionais e referente aos Discursos do Sujeito Coletivo suportam o entendimento que somente a implantação de microssistemas com apoio do poder público podem influenciar positivamente as características pessoais das crianças bem como o sistema de crença vigente na cultura em que estas crianças se desenvolvem. / The present study, supported by the Bioecological Model of Human Development (BRONFENBRENNER, 2005), investigated in three different subcultures (Semiarid, Serrano and Seacoast) (1) how children motor and school performance were influenced by the environment; (2) how individualperformance level influence the way that the environment is experienced by the children; and (3) the changes in children individual characteristics and in the macrosystem as consequence of the a new microsystem capable of promote development (Program of Intervention Motor- Pedagogical). The study design was quantitative and qualitative and employed qualiquantitative. The Test of Gross Motor Development – Second Edition (ULRICH. 2000) and the Test of School Performance (STEIN, 1994) was used. The qualitative analyses included the unsystematic non-participant-observation (FLICK, 2009) and interviews using as method the Individual Collective Discourse (LEFEVRE; LEFEVRE, 2005). The results reveled that more than 90% of the participants demonstrated motor development inferior percentile 5 (categorized as very poor) and that 70,6 % showed inferior school performance. Those delays were probably associated with (1) the macrosytem omission (legislation and belief system) as consequence a lack of opportunities in the school microsystem was observed; (2) lack of pedagogical planningto promote motor development in the school system and in the social projects; and, (3) poor teacher training. Regardless to the intervention impact the General Linear Model with repeated measures in the time factor reveled a significant interaction, Group X Time,in the three environments (Semiarid, Serrano and Seacoast). Children from the intervention program showed positive and significant changes in motor performance whereas for the children in the control group those changes were not observed. Concern with school performance, the Wilcoxon test showed that the positive and significant changes along the intervention time were more evident in the group of children assisted for the local educational board and social projects.The results qualitativeobservations and the analysis of the Individual Collective Discourse provided support to the understand that only the implementation of microsystem with governmental support will be to influence positively the children individual characteristics as well as the system of beliefs prevalent in the culture that those children are developing.

Schools, families, and neighborhoods can support the development of happy, healthy children and adolescents. However, a majority of children in the United States also experience adversity in their early lives that can have deleterious effects on their cognitive and socioemotional development. Measuring and modeling early adversity is fundamental to understanding development as it occurs through interactions with schools, families and neighborhoods. As outlined by Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model of human development, proximal and distal forces shape development, and cannot be isolated when relating measures of the developmental context to outcomes for individuals. For schools and other social programs to support students from high adversity backgrounds, the nature and structure of adversity and contextual influences must be measured and modeled in a robust manner. The three distinct papers in this dissertation describe the construction and evaluation of measurements for adversity, family conflict, neighborhood quality, and school safety, along with models that relate these elements to each other and cognitive outcomes in childhood and adolescence. Structural equation modeling is used to investigate the latent variables generated to measure the constructs and the nature of their relationships. The studies use nationally representative data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to create and test the theoretically driven models. The first study constructs and tests latent variables aligned with the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) framework in order to generate a continuous and theoretically coherent measurement of adversity. The second study uses this ACEs measurement along with measures of family conflict and neighborhood quality to generate and test path models informed by the bioecological theory of development. The third study applies these measures of developmental constructs to the study of safety in schools and identifies the differential function of school safety for children with varying levels of adversity to better understand the potential for school-based interventions. Results from these studies indicate the utility of a latent variable approach to measuring adversity, and the viability of path analysis for the study of how ACEs, family conflict and neighborhood quality influence cognitive outcomes. Additionally, results provide evidence for the necessity of varied and networked developmental supports for children from highly adverse beginnings, above those that may be available through reforms to school safety. Taken together, these studies provide a rich portrait of childhood development incorporating multiple contextual influences, and add to our understanding of what schools can and cannot do to support children.

This study focused on stress and resilience among teachers in 15 urban secondary schools serving areas of multiple and complex disadvantage in the Greater Manchester and Merseyside regions of England (UK). It utilised the mixed-methods approach to gather and analyse the data. This consisted of a questionnaire survey of 150 teachers and interviews of 20 teachers. It examined person characteristics of teachers in these schools; key stress risks in the schools; coping strategies employed by these teachers and their protective factors. The main quantitative analysis methodologies used in the study were descriptive analysis; factor analysis and regression analysis. Qualitative findings were analysed using thematic analysis and teacher pen portrait and school case study presentations. Integrative analysis of quantitative and qualitative findings was then conducted in the discussion of main findings. This study found that the teachers’ major force characteristics were self-efficacy; persistence; personal attitudes towards one’s job; personality and temperament and commitment to the job. Their main resource characteristic was experience while their major demand characteristic was their professional role. These teachers were also exposed to person, proximal processes, context and time risks. There were risks associated with force and demand person characteristics. The main process risks were within their interactions with pupils, parents, colleagues and senior management. There were also context risks in their microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem and macrosystem. There were also time risks across the microtime, mesotime and macrotime. To cope, teachers in this sample utilised both direct-action and palliative coping strategies. Results also indicated that these teachers’ protective factors were in their resource and force characteristics; proximal processes; context and time.