Patterns of adolescents' academic and socioemotional adjustment and the contribution of physical health
Abstract
In this study I delineate groups of adolescents who show different patterns of academic and socioemotional adjustment. Eight distinctively different profiles of adjustment were observed using latent profile analysis with three measures of the youths' adjustment: engagement, self-regulation, and incidence of depressive symptoms. Results of a MANOVA showed for the variable engagement there were six non-overlapping groups, for the variable self-regulation there were three non-overlapping groups, and for the variable of depressive symptoms there were six non-overlapping groups. The adjustment profiles were related to both adolescents' sex and health status. Girls were over-represented in profiles with higher reports of depressive symptoms and in the profile with the lowest self-regulation. Boys were over-represented in profiles with lower reports of depressive symptoms. Among profiles with similar levels of depressive symptoms and self-regulation, those with higher engagement had relatively more girls (and relatively fewer boys) than did those with lower engagement. Adolescents with excellent health were over-represented in the most adaptive profile. Adolescents with poor health were over-represented in the least adaptive profiles. The relation between health, adjustment profile and achievement was also examined. Results showed significant main effects for health and adjustment profile; adolescents with poor health also had poor academic achievement. The results of this study suggested that self-regulation may be more important than engagement and lack of depressive symptoms for academic achievement: some profiles with low engagement and/or high incidence of depressive symptoms had high achievement. Additionally, results showed that adjustment profile significantly moderated the relation between health and achievement. Among youths with low self-regulation, poorer health was associated with very low achievement. This study has implications for education policy and interventions for youths with chronic health problems.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Patrick, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Educational psychology|Developmental psychology
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