In response to concerns expressed by high school counselors, the researchers developed a quantitative Likert-scale survey to examine the relationships between academic performance (defined as school attendance and final grades) and recreational video gaming and texting. Questions about video gaming and texting were included with other questions…

A positive transition to secondary school is pivotal to adolescents' mental health and success. However, the school transition research has mainly focused on transition-related adversities rather than adolescent wellbeing and adaptation. While the disturbing consequences of a difficult school transition are known, little attention has been paid to…

Background: Participation in extracurricular activities can have positive effects on youth, with greater participation associated with higher academic as well as better socioemotional and behavioral outcomes. Little research has examined differential effects of in-school and out-of-school activities. Methods: This study examines in-school and…

Student belonging to school has been consistently correlated with many significant outcomes, yet there is little research that depicts how this sense is developed. This study explores the factors through which late elementary/middle school students (Grades 4-8) develop a sense of belonging to their school. Individual interviews with teachers and…

Background: There is strong theoretical and empirical support for school connectedness as an important element of healthy youth development. The primary objective of this study was to replicate previous research identifying factors differentiating youth who do not feel connected to their schools in a sample of adolescents in Ontario, Canada. A…

Eight young women describe how they experienced growing up in a rural environment and the impact of that experience on their future plans. Several metathemes emerged from their narratives that have practical relevance for counselors who are helping youth to shape their futures. (Author/MKA)

T. Hirschi's (1969, "Causes of Delinquency." University of California Press, Berkeley, CA) control theory proposes that involvement, as an element of the social bond, should reduce delinquency. But, research studies have found that the effect of involvement is rather weak. This study reformulates Hirschi's involvement hypothesis by…

In an Ottawa high school, a committee of staff and student representatives explored drug use in the school. A questionnaire was developed to assess student perception of academic performance and extracurricular involvement; students' frequency of drug use during the previous two months for nine categories of drugs; time and place of use and source…

A study undertaken to create a profile of 15- to 18-year-old students in minority French language schools in Ontario is reported. The first chapter describes the study's methodology, which included review of education ministry documents and other research, and interviews with students and educators. The second chapter summarizes research findings…