Ann K. Mullis

Predictors of academic performance during early adolescence: A contextual view:

Utilising the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS: 88), this study examined some of the frequently used indicators of social capital and resource capital as predictors of academic performance of 24,599 middle school adolescents (12,111 males and 12,244 females) ranging in age from 13–16 years. Sixty-eight per cent were White, 12.2% were Black, and 12.9% were Hispanic. The participants were drawn from a stratified national sample of over 1000 public and private schools in the United States. Data from NELS: 88 were analysed using indicators of social capital and resource capital. Preliminarily modelling indicated the need to separate social capital into two components: parental networks and student networks. Resource capital, including parent education, parent income, and educational items in the home, was most predictive of academic performance. In addition, student reported misbehaviour (behaviour) in school was included as a mediating variable. The findings indicated that both indicators of social capital were not strong contributors to academic performance among adolescents. Resource capital indicators were found to be stronger contributors to academic performance. The context variable (hypothesised as a mediator variable) of student misbehaviour in school was found to be the best predictor of academic performance. The results are discussed in relation to social capital theory and future research of viable predictors of academic performance among adolescents.

Differences in Empathy Between Offender and Nonoffender Youth

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in empathy between offender and nonoffender youth. Seventy-six male and 33 female juvenile offenders between the ages of 12 and 18 years and 33 male and 33 female nonoffenders between the ages of 15 and 19 years comprised the samples for this study. Measures of empathy, altruism, and social support were administered to all participants and then the participants were analyzed for status group differences. Only 1 dimension of empathy, emotional tone, was found to be significantly different based on group status. Gender differences were found for both status groups for another dimension of empathy, personal distress. Among offender and nonoffender youth, females yielded higher scores in personal distress than did males. Emotional tone and family structure were found to be the most predictive variables of offender status. Findings were discussed based on previous research and implications for interventions were addressed.

Relations between Identity Formation and Family Characteristics among Young Adults

Relations between identity formation and family characteristics among young adults were examined. The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales II and the Ego Process Questionnaire were administered to 57 male and 94 female college students between the ages of 18 and 25. There were 78 Caucasian and 73 African American youth. Significant relations were found between identity exploration and commitment, and family cohesion and adaptability. In addition, moderating effects of race and gender also were found for relations between identity formation and family variables for this sample of young adults. African American participants were found to explore interpersonally more often than Caucasians when family cohesion and family adaptability were low. Family cohesion was positively related to interpersonal and ideological identity commitments for males but only for interpersonal commitment for females. Implications for future research are addressed.

Ethnic identity and body image among black and white college females.

Abstract Objective: This study examines ethnic identity and body image in black and white college females. Participants: Researchers surveyed 118 students at 2 universities, 1 traditionally white and 1 historically black. Methods: Correlations and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were used to investigate the relationship between race, ethnic identity, and body dissatisfaction. Results: There was no relationship between a womans ethnic identity and her body dissatisfaction. Although white women scored higher on body dissatisfaction measures, women in both groups who had higher body dissatisfaction scores also choose smaller ideal body types. Results suggest that identification with an ethnic group may not shield women from being dissatisfied with their bodies. Conclusion: Colleges and universities should be aware that many women could experience body dissatisfaction and develop diverse programs that target women from different ethnic groups.

Parental relationships, autonomy, and identity processes of high school students.

ABSTRACT To examine the interrelations among parental relationships, emotional autonomy, and identity statuses, the authors asked 234 (105 male, 129 female) high school students to complete the Parental Bonding Scale (G. Parker, H. Tupling, & L. B. Brown, 1979), Emotional Autonomy Scale (L. D. Steinberg & S. B. Silverberg, 1986), and Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Scale-II (L. D. Bennion & G. R. Adams, 1986). There continues to be controversy about whether adolescents’ identity formation is related to their emotional separation from their parents. According to Eriksonian and neo-Eriksonian theory (J. E. Marcia, 1980, 1984), adolescents who are successful in resolving their identity issues are better able to emotionally individuate from their parents. That is, adolescents have fewer conflicts with parents as they become more independent of them. Results of the present study indicate that adolescent perceptions of mothers caring behavior, but not fathers caring behavior, predicted higher foreclosure identity status scores among adolescents. In addition, 2 dimensions of emotional autonomy (i.e., perceiving parents as people and parental deidealization) best predicted the adolescent identity statuses of moratorium and foreclosure. Results also indicate that future research may need to establish a better theoretical conceptualization of the constructs of interest in this study and better measures of emotional autonomy among adolescents.

VOCATIONAL INTERESTS OF ADOLESCENTS: RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SELF-ESTEEM AND LOCUS OF CONTROL '

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among scores on vocational interests, self-esteem, and locus of control for high school students. Grade and sex differences were also examined. 1364 high school students ranging in age from 14 to 19 years of age were administered the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory, Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children, and the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory. High school students with higher scores on self-esteem and showing an orientation toward internal locus of control expressed more interests in a variety of vocational themes than adolescents with lower scores on self-esteem and scores for external locus of control. Sex and grade differences in vocational interests of adolescents were also noted. The findings were discussed in light of theoretical and practical considerations.

Parent–Child Interaction Therapy: A Meta-Analysis of Child Behavior Outcomes and Parent Stress

Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a behavioral family therapy approach that aims to establish a parent–child relationship that will enable parents to teach their preschool-age child prosocial skills, leading to a decrease in inappropriate and maladaptive behaviors. The purpose of this article is to review recent research on PCIT and conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of this parenting intervention as reported in 11 studies that met criteria for involvement. In addition to child behavior, this meta-analysis focuses on parenting stress as a primary outcome of interest. The authors found an emphasis on effectiveness, dissemination, and portability to diverse populations in our review of PCIT outcome studies from 2004 to 2011. Implications for practice, policy, and research are addressed.

Childcare Center Directors' Perceptions of Their Work Environments: A Comparison of For-Profit and Non-Profit Programs.

Perceptions of childcare center directors in for‐profit and non‐profit childcare centers were examined. Previous research indicates that childcare employees are poorly compensated, not properly trained, and dissatisfied with their work environment. This study explores further into the training, work environment, and job satisfactions of childcare center directors. Questionnaires were distributed throughout a southeast state in the United States to three hundred and ten childcare center directors from for‐profit and non‐profit centers. Levels of job satisfaction, work environments (including employment benefits and challenges), and the educational and training experiences of for‐profit and non‐profit childcare center directors were examined. There were no significant differences between for‐profit and non‐profit center directors in their perceptions of job satisfaction and in their reports of benefits and challenges. However, there was a significant difference in education level of directors with directors of non‐profit centers having higher educational attainment than directors of for‐profit centers.

Child sexual abuse and the superfluous association with negative parenting outcomes: the role of symptoms as predictors

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between child sexual abuse and high-risk maternal parenting indicators and the extent to which maternal depression and self-perceived parenting competence influence that relationship. Using path analysis, results indicate maternal depression and parenting sense of competence mediate the relationship between child sexual abuse and outcome variables. Post hoc analyses indicated that child sexual abuse was significantly associated with decreased parenting sense of competence, controlling for depression. These results highlight that the pathways for increased risk in parenting outcomes for child sexual abuse survivors may be indirect and associated with beliefs of their own sense of competence and depression as opposed to a direct association with sexual abuse itself. Implications are discussed.

Relations among Parental Divorce, Identity Status, and Coping Strategies of College Age Women

Relations among parental divorce, identity status, and coping strategies were examined in a sample of emerging adult women. Two hundred forty college age women between the ages of 18 and 23 were asked to report whether they had experienced parental divorce and were administered the Coping Strategies Inventory and the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status-II. Correlational analyses indicated that identity diffusion in the interpersonal domain was associated with emotion focused coping strategies, whereas identity achievement in both sets of domains was associated with greater use of problem focused coping strategies. Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that, for both the ideological and interpersonal identity domains, divorce was positively related to emotion focused coping and negatively related to both diffusion and foreclosure. Tests of mediation did not produce any significant mediating pathways for either domain. These findings are discussed in relation to current research and practice implications for intervening with emerging adults.