Central American and Cambodian students in six Canadian high schools and their parents were interviewed to assess the students' emotional problems and pre- and postmigration family environment. Findings indicate that the relationship between the emotional problems and scholastic achievement of teenaged refugees was tenuous. (Author/MKA)

In Hong Kong secondary schools, students in the senior forms take competitive examinations to proceed to the next level, whereas those in the junior forms attend school regardless of their ability and motivation. To determine if this produces different classroom climates, 602 Chinese secondary school students were administered the Classroom…

Investigates the relationship of maternal and paternal parenting behavior during adolescence to four domains of early adult functioning. Higher levels of maternal firm control were associated with more secure early adult romantic attachment and lower levels of educational achievement. There were no main effects for fathers, but paternal parenting…

Examines the school adjustment process among South Asian children who immigrated to the United States with their parents, and had below average grades. Three major themes were found: congruence of parents' and children's beliefs on the value of education; congruence of parents' and children's beliefs that education is the tool to achieve goals;…

Study looked to determine the strength of the relationship between smoking, depression, intention to smoke, and several psychosocial and environmental factors. Participants completed the Multiscore Depression Inventory (MDI) and items regarding smoking behavior. Analyses found that participants were more likely to smoke if parents smoked, if…

Explores factors related to academic and social success among rural Black adolescents. Presents a profile of successful Black adolescents developed from interviews with 68 students indentified by teachers as successful. Results showed 13 variables leading to success, including close family networks and positive role models. (BH)

Explored role of adolescent's perception of family environment and its relationship to underachievement. Normal ability underachievers and matched group of achievers completed Family Environment Scale. Identified four variables that distinguished between achievers and underachievers: moral-religious emphasis, achievement orientation, family…

Low income, urban African American students (N=22) identified as academically promising were asked about their perceptions of the transition to ninth grade. Results highlight the salience of mothers, the challenges of the ninth grade curriculum, and adjustment to a bigger, more complex school environment. (Author/MKA)

Investigated correlates of academic achievement, including self-concept, extracurricular activities, family environment, and gender. Findings indicated that, although self-concept and academic achievement were associated for gifted seventh and eighth graders (n=33), the two variables were not associated for academically weak students (n=33). For…

Proposes a model in which parental social status (PSS) affects school achievement and self-concept in the academic domain. Also studied how perceived PSS affects self-concept in social domains. Findings supported the model with one exception: PSS was unrelated to academic self-concept in the urban setting. (RJM)

Examined predictors of cigarette smoking and alcohol use in nationwide sample of 1,200 Icelandic adolescents. Found that use of tobacco and alcohol was related to sex, residence, hours of paid work, physical activities, social network, educational performance and beliefs, and psychological distress. Concludes that existing theoretical perspectives…