Adolescent Developmental Outcomes Research Articles

Parental Ethnicity and Adolescent Development: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Dataset.

Adolescent developmental outcomes can vary significantly by differences in ethnicity. While previous studies have examined the impacts of adolescents' own ethnicity on their development, little research has been conducted about the impacts of the ethnicity of both parents as an important family background factor which is likely to expose adolescents to a variety of growth environments. Using nationally representative data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) surveys, we examine the relationship between parental ethnicity (including both monoethnic families and interethnic families with intermarried Han and ethnic minority groups) and adolescent developmental outcomes, measured by academic performance, cognitive development, and health. Our results show that adolescents with interethnic parents had higher scores in literacy and mathematics tests than those of monoethnic non-Han parents, but their scores were not statistically significantly different from those in monoethnic Han families. Adolescents with interethnic parents also performed better in fluid intelligence assessments and had lower obesity rates than those with monoethnic ethnic minority parents. Our results further suggest that socioeconomic status, parental education, and education expectations partially mediate the association between interethnic parents and adolescent development. Moreover, parental ethnic composition acts as a potential moderator that influences the effects of parents' non-agricultural work on adolescent development. Our study expands the growing body of empirical evidence on the relationship between parental ethnicity and adolescent development and is conducive to policy recommendations for interventions in the development of adolescents with ethnic minority parents.

Analyzing when parental warmth but without parental strictness leads to more adolescent empathy and self-concept: Evidence from Spanish homes.

Classical research mainly conducted with European-American families has identified the combination of warmth and strictness (authoritative style) as the parenting always associated with the highest scores on developmental outcomes. Additionally, despite the benefits of empathy for prosocial behaviors and protection against antisocial behaviors, most research has considered the contribution of specific practices (e.g., reasoning or power assertion), but not so much the parenting styles. Similarly, family studies tend to study the relationship between parenting and global self-perceptions (self-esteem), but not so much those of each dimension (self-concept). In the present study, 600 Spanish adolescents from 12 to 17 years old (M = 15.25, SD = 2.01) were classified within one of the four household typologies (i.e., authoritative, indulgent, authoritarian, or neglectful). Adolescent developmental outcomes were cognitive empathy (adopting perspectives and emotional understanding), emotional empathy (empathic stress and empathic happiness), and self-concept (academic, social, emotional, family and physical). The results showed that the indulgent parenting (warmth but not strictness) was related to equal or even better empathy and self-concept than the authoritative style (warmth and strictness), whereas non-warm parenting (authoritarian and neglectful) was consistently associated with poor results. Overall, the present findings seriously question that parental strictness combined with parental warmth (authoritative style) is always the parenting style related to the greatest outcomes. By contrast, it seems that reasoning, warmth and involvement, without strictness (indulgent parenting) help adolescents to achieve a good orientation toward others in terms of cognitive and affective empathy and a good self-evaluation in terms of self-concept.

Materialism, Egocentrism and Delinquent Behavior in Chinese Adolescents in Mainland China: A Short-Term Longitudinal Study.

Although research generally showed that holding materialistic beliefs would lead to poor developmental outcomes, few studies have used adolescent delinquency as an outcome measure. In addition, the intervening processes between materialism and adolescent developmental outcomes are unclear. In particular, it is not clear how materialistic beliefs influence egocentrism and adolescent delinquency. Methodologically, the existing studies have several weaknesses, including small samples, cross-sectional research designs, and being limited to people living in Western cultures. Using two waves of data collected from Sichuan, China (N = 4981), we studied the predictive effect of adolescent materialism on delinquency and the mediating role of egocentrism. Over two occasions separated by six months, students aged 11 and above responded to a questionnaire evaluating adolescent materialism, egocentrism, and delinquency (mean Wave 1 age = 13.15, range between 11 and 20.38). Results of multiple regression analyses suggested that materialism at Time 1 positively predicted Time 2 egocentrism. Additionally, Time 1 materialism positively predicted the level and change in Time 2 delinquency. Finally, based on 5000 bootstrap samples with gender, age, ethnic group, and Time 1 delinquent behavior as covariates, PROCESS analyses showed that egocentrism partially mediated the influence of Time 1 materialism delinquency and its change at Time 2. This study suggests that materialistic beliefs shape egocentrism, which further strengthens adolescent delinquent behavior. This study also replicates the findings of a pioneer study in China reported previously.

What do parents do? Towards conceptual clarity in the study of parental influence on adolescent developmental and behavioural outcomes

This conceptual paper utilises Situational Action Theory, the adolescence and parenting literatures, and a parental monitoring and crime use-case, to emphasise two separate but inter-related and co-existing distinctions i) between parenting behaviours that guide and control (behaviour distinction), and ii) between parenting behaviours that influence developmental and behavioural outcomes (goal distinction); and intersect these distinctions to identify four kinds of parental influence. The specificity of distinctions and their intersection are rarely made explicit in parenting research, resulting in concepts, design, analysis, and conclusions which conflate various parenting features and processes. This paper goes right back to basics and contributes to clarity in the conceptual foundations of parental influence on adolescent development and behaviour. By facilitating conceptual clarity and detailed specification of mechanisms, this paper under-labours to support the future development of better models of parental influence. In turn, this can underpin strong empirical research into the causes of adolescent behaviour that has the most utility for effective policy.

Differences between Chinese Adolescent Immigrants and Adolescent Non-Immigrants in Hong Kong: Perceived Psychosocial Attributes, School Environment and Characteristics of Hong Kong Adolescents.

Although the impact of immigration on adolescent developmental outcomes has received extensive scholarly attention, the impact of internal migration, particularly in the Chinese context, on adolescents’ psychosocial development has not been scientifically investigated. This study examined whether mainland Chinese adolescent immigrants (N = 590) and adolescent non-immigrants (n = 1798) differed on: (a) psychosocial attributes indexed by character traits, well-being, social behavior, and views on child development, (b) perceived school environment, and (c) perceptions of characteristics of Hong Kong adolescents. Consistent with the healthy migration hypothesis, Hong Kong adolescents and mainland Chinese adolescent immigrants did not differ on most of the outcomes; Chinese adolescent immigrants showed higher perceived moral character, empathy, and social trust than did Hong Kong adolescent non-immigrants. Chinese adolescent immigrants also showed more favorable perceptions of the school environment and moral character, social trust and social responsibility of adolescents in Hong Kong. This pioneer Chinese study provides support for the healthy immigration hypothesis (immigration paradox hypothesis) but not the immigration morbidity hypothesis within the specific sociocultural context of Hong Kong in China.

Buffering negative effects of immigration on cognitive, social, and educational development: A multinational meta-analysis of child and adolescent prevention programmes.

Growing up in migrant families is a well-known distal risk factor related to poorer outcomes in child and adolescent health, academic, socioemotional and behavioural development. This article reviews the effects of various prevention measures such as early education programmes, cognitive and language training or parent and teacher training on child and adolescent developmental outcomes in immigration samples. Using several comprehensive literature searches, we found 138 research reports with 141 studies and 175 comparisons on preventing negative effects of immigration. Overall, programmes yielded an effect size of d= 0.26 at post-test using the random effect model. These effects decreased over time while still differing significantly from zero. A cross-tabulation of prevention approach/programme type by different outcome domains revealed several important results such as high effects of child cognitive and language training programmes on child academic and language outcomes and relatively low effects of all programmes on child socioemotional outcomes. In addition, individualised and culturally tailored programmes seems to be more effective. However, generalised effects on more distal educational outcomes (e.g., school degrees) were generally weak. Hence, it remains questionable whether individual psychosocial and educational programmes are able to counterbalance the multifaceted risks of immigration.

The Impact of Positive Youth Development Attributes and Life Satisfaction on Academic Well-Being: A Longitudinal Mediation Study.

While research studies revealed that positive youth development (PYD) attributes have beneficial impact on adolescent developmental outcomes, whether and how PYD qualities are related to academic well-being (such as academic stress and academic satisfaction) are unclear. Based on a longitudinal study (N = 2,312 secondary school students; Mage = 12.54 ± 0.68; 51% female) in Hong Kong, the present study tested a longitudinal mediation model in which it was hypothesized that PYD qualities predicted life satisfaction, academic stress, and academic satisfaction, with satisfaction with life mediating the influence of PYD qualities on academic well-being. Results showed that PYD qualities positively predicted academic satisfaction but negatively predicted academic stress over time. While life satisfaction partially mediated the influence of PYD attributes on academic satisfaction, it fully mediated the influence of PYD attributes on academic stress. The present study supports the proposed conceptual model and underscores the role of PYD qualities in academic well-being through the mediation of life satisfaction.

Adolescent Smartphone Acquisition: An Exploratory Qualitative Case Study with Late Adolescents and Their Parents

The timing of smartphone acquisition for children and adolescence has gained public interest and research on the topic is just beginning. Parent-late adolescent dyads (n = 8; 16 individuals) from one community were recruited for participation in a study regarding smartphone acquisition in adolescence. Late adolescents (m age = 18; female n = 4; male n = 4) and parents (m age = 47; female n = 6; male n = 2) completed in-depth interviews or online surveys with open-ended items. A qualitative case study approach was selected, and inductive analytic methods were implemented. Themes indicated that age and maturity, practical reasons, and social and individual consequences were all taken into consideration when determining the timing of adolescent smartphone acquisition. Most participants reported that there was a right age for adolescents to receive a smartphone, but the ages varied (m age = 15). Results from this study support the need for research on the potential influence of age of smartphone acquisition on adolescent developmental outcomes.

Associations Between Postoperative Management in the Critical Care Unit and Adolescent Developmental Outcomes Following Cardiac Surgery in Infancy: An Exploratory Study*

Children with congenital heart disease are at high risk for developmental sequelae. Most studies focus on preoperative and intraoperative predictors of developmental impairment, with less attention to the postoperative period. The relationship between patient-related factors specific to the postoperative course in the PICU following cardiac surgery with long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in adolescence was examined. Retrospective chart review of patients previously recruited to a study describing their developmental outcomes in adolescence. Single tertiary care pediatric hospital in Canada. Eighty adolescents, born between 1991 and 1999, with congenital heart disease who required open-heart surgery before 2 years old. Several variables related to acuity of illness and complexity of postoperative course in the PICU were collected. Outcome measures included the Movement-Assessment Battery for Children-2 (motor), Leiter Brief Intelligence Quotient (cognition), and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (behavior). Analyses examined associations between PICU variables and long-term outcomes. Longer mechanical ventilation (β = -0.49; p = 0.013) and dopamine use (β = -14.41; p = 0.012) were associated with lower motor scores. Dopamine use was associated with lower cognitive scores (β = -14.02; p = 0.027). Longer PICU stay (β = 0.18; p = 0.002), having an open chest postoperatively (β = 3.83; p = 0.017), longer mechanical ventilation (β = 0.20; p = 0.001), longer inotrope support (β = 0.27; p = 0.002), hours on dopamine (β = 0.01; p = 0.007), days to enteral feeding (β = 0.22; p = 0.012), lower hemoglobin (β = -0.11; p = 0.004), and higher creatinine (β = 0.05; p = 0.014) were all associated with behavioral difficulties. Several important developmental outcomes in adolescents were associated with factors related to their postoperative course in the PICU as infants. Findings may highlight those children at highest risk for neurodevelopmental sequelae and suggest new approaches to critical care management following open-heart surgery, with the aim of mitigating or preventing adverse long-term outcomes.

Coercive Parenting and Adolescent Developmental Outcomes: The Moderating Effects of Empathic Concern and Perception of Social Rejection

Previous studies have identified coercive parenting as a prevalent parenting style in Chinese society. They suggested that this style of parenting could promote prosocial behavior and school commitment when combined with close monitoring and proper training, but it could also undermine mental health. This study critically examines these claims. Based on the existing theory and research, it is predicted that the influences of coercive parenting on adolescent development vary according to adolescent personal attributes including empathic concern and perception of social rejection. Through the analysis of two-wave survey data collected from a probability sample of 1085 Chinese adolescents, this study found that adolescents with higher levels of empathic concern and perceived social rejection reported less delinquency and stronger school commitment than their peers with lower levels of such attributes, when coercive parenting was low to moderate. However, under the condition of excessive coercive control, these adolescents demonstrated more delinquency and weaker school commitment. Empathic concern and perception of social rejection, on the other hand, played no or limited role in moderating the relationship between coercive parenting and depression. These results suggest that the influences of coercive parenting are dynamic and are subject to change as they interact with adolescent personal characteristics across different developmental domains.

Relationships between Perceived Paternal and Maternal Sacrifice and Developmental Outcomes of Chinese Adolescents Experiencing Economic Disadvantage

Parental sacrifice is an important feature of Chinese socialization. According to Walsh’s family resilience framework, perceived parental sacrifice serves as a familial protective factor that enhances adolescent positive development in the context of adversity and economic hardship. Based on a sample of 716 Chinese adolescents experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong, this study examined the main and interaction effects of perceived paternal and maternal sacrifice on adolescent developmental outcomes (indexed by self-identity, self-determination and self-efficacy) in Chinese families. We also examined the differences between paternal and maternal sacrifice perceived by adolescents. Results showed that adolescents perceived maternal sacrifice to be stronger than paternal sacrifice. Moreover, there were main and interaction effects of perceived paternal sacrifice and maternal sacrifice on adolescents’ self-identity, self-determination and self-efficacy. When paternal sacrifice was at higher levels, maternal sacrifice positively predicted adolescents’ self-identity, self-determination and self-efficacy. However, when paternal sacrifice was at lower levels, the influence of maternal sacrifice on adolescent self-identity, self-determination and self-efficacy became non-significant. The study underscored the importance of paternal and maternal sacrifice and illustrated their interaction in shaping the developmental outcomes of economically disadvantaged adolescents. The theoretical and practical implications for family intervention work were discussed.

The protective role of family structure for adolescent development in sub-Saharan Africa.

Several studies have focused on the risk factors associated with adolescent developmental outcomes, but the literature on the role of protective factors at the family and community level for positive adolescent development is scarce, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We hypothesize that ensuring a supportive environment for adolescents may result in delayed sexual debut for adolescents in SSA. The relationship between family structure and positive adolescent sexual behaviour, measured as delay in sexual debut, was examined using the bioecological theory framed by a risk and resilience perspective. We used nationally representative data on female and male adolescents (aged 15–17 years) from 12 countries in SSA. We modelled logistic regressions to test for associations between family structure and delayed sexual debut while controlling for other covariates in SSA. The majority (90%) of the young adults delayed sexual debut, and this delay varied by family structure. After controlling for other covariates, adolescents living with neither parent had lower odds of delaying sexual debut although results were only significant for males. Interaction terms with community socio-economic status showed an interaction between community education and males living with neither parent. Future studies must investigate the gender differentials in the relationship between family structure and delayed sexual debut among adolescents in SSA.

Parent-Adolescent Discrepancies in Perceived Parental Sacrifice and Adolescent Developmental Outcomes in Poor Chinese Families.

Parents and adolescents perceive family processes differently. This study examined how convergence and divergence of parent-perceived and adolescent-perceived parental sacrifice influenced adolescent developmental outcomes in a sample of 275 poor intact Chinese families in Hong Kong. The results of polynomial regression analyses indicated that the interaction of fathers' and adolescents' perceptions of paternal sacrifice negatively predicted adolescent resilience and cognitive competence. Similar findings were identified in maternal sacrifice. Cluster analysis further showed that adolescents exhibited greater resilience and cognitive competence in families with parent-adolescent convergent perceptions of high levels of parental sacrifice than did those in families with parent-adolescent divergent views. Theoretical, methodological, and practical implications of the results are discussed.

Dreams, aspirations and related behavior in children and adolescents: impacts on child developmental outcomes

Abstract“Dreams”, “aspirations” and related constructs are traditionally regarded as facilitators of adolescent educational attainment in the Chinese context. Besides, there is an emergent need to widen the understanding of such constructs and their impact on children and adolescent developmental outcomes. This paper discusses the developmental outcomes of dreams, aspiration and related concepts based on a thorough review of the literature. Besides outlining the impacts of aspirations, dreams and related constructs on children and adolescents, features of related intervention programs, including themes of the intervention programs, program participants, methods of implementation and evaluation in both Western and Chinese contexts are also documented.

Mother-Child Discrepancy in Perceived Family Functioning and Adolescent Developmental Outcomes in Families Experiencing Economic Disadvantage in Hong Kong.

Though growing attention has been devoted to examining informant discrepancies of family attributes in social science research, studies that examine how interactions between mother-reported and adolescent-reported family functioning predict adolescent developmental outcomes in underprivileged families are severely lacking. The current study investigated the difference between mothers and adolescents in their reports of family functioning, as well as the relationships between mother-reported and adolescent-reported family functioning and adolescent developmental outcomes in a sample of 432 Chinese single-mother families (mean age of adolescents=13.7years, 51.2% girls, mean age of mothers=43.5years, 69.9% divorced) experiencing economic disadvantage in Hong Kong. Polynomial regression analyses were conducted to assess whether discrepancy in family functioning between mother reports and adolescent reports predicted resilience, beliefs in the future, cognitive competence, self-efficacy and self-determination of adolescents. The results indicated that adolescents reported family functioning more negatively than did their mothers. Polynomial regression analyses showed that the interaction term between mothers' reports and adolescents' reports of family functioning predicted adolescent developmental outcomes in Chinese single-mother families living in poverty. Basically, under poor adolescent-reported family functioning, adolescent development would be relatively better if their mothers reported more positive family functioning. In contrast, under good adolescent-reported family functioning, adolescents expressed better developmental outcomes when mothers reported lower levels of family functioning than those mothers who reported higher levels of family functioning. The findings provide insights on how congruency and discrepancy between informant reports of family functioning would influence adolescent development. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Spirituality as a key positive youth development construct for university students

AbstractThe curriculum of a lecture about spirituality in the course entitled “Tomorrow’s Leaders” developed by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is introduced in this paper. With reference to the basic tenets of outcome-based learning, the intended learning outcomes and the curriculum structure are illustrated. The following topics related to the construct of spirituality are included in this paper: definition and basic concepts of spirituality, theories of spirituality, antecedents of spirituality, spirituality and adolescent developmental outcomes, spirituality and leadership, and ways to promote spiritual leadership. Topics for reflections are also presented at the end of the paper.

The Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong: Work Done and Lessons Learned in a Decade

The Project Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programs is a positive youth development program initiated and financially supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Since 2005, the project has gone through several phases, including the initial phase (2005-2012), school-based extension phase (2009-2016), and community-based extension phase (2013-2017). In the initial phase, with the involvement of academics from 5 universities in Hong Kong, the research team developed youth enhancement programs for junior secondary school students (20 hours per grade), trained the program implementers (20 hours per grade), assisted in the implementation in more than 250 schools, and evaluated the program using multiple evaluation strategies, including a 5-year longitudinal experimental study. In the school-based extension phase, the project was implemented for another cycle (2009-2010 and 2011-2012 school years) and a 6-year longitudinal study was conducted to understand the psychosocial development of Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. In the community-based extension phase, the programs were administered by social workers in the community settings. Generally speaking, different evaluation findings showed that the programs in Project Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programs promoted positive development and reduced risk behavior in Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. Positive youth development attributes and family functioning also have positive contributions to adolescent developmental outcomes over time.

Trajectories of Parent–Adolescent Relationship Quality Among At-Risk Youth: Parental Depression and Adolescent Developmental Outcomes

BackgroundAlthough the parent–adolescent relationship has been studied intensely, predictors and consequences of changes in the quality of the relationship across time have not been examined. ObjectivesThis study examined the role of parent depression on changes in the parent–adolescent relationship, defined as support and conflict, and subsequent effects of relationship change on adolescent psychosocial outcomes including risky behavior, substance use, depressive symptoms, and hopelessness. MethodUsing data from a large prevention study, the sample included 110 youth at risk for high school drop out from the control condition; the sample was 48.2% of female, with a mean age of 15.9years. The data, gathered from adolescents and their parents across a period of approximately 18months, were analyzed using growth mixture modeling. ResultsThree distinct trajectories for parent–adolescent conflict (high-decreasing, low-increasing, low-stable trajectory) were identified as well as a single growth model for support, which revealed a slight decline in support across time. Parent depression was a significant predictor of perceived support, but not of membership in trajectories of conflict. Low parent–adolescent support was associated with adolescent depression and hopelessness measured 18months post-baseline. Adolescents in the low but increasing conflict trajectory and those having a parent with depression reported increased depression and hopelessness 18months later. DiscussionParent–Adolescent support and conflict were associated with adolescent emotional outcomes, particularly depression and hopelessness. The findings provide evidence that will inform prevention strategies to facilitate parent–adolescent support, minimize the negative impact of relationship conflict, and thereby promote healthy psychosocial outcomes for at-risk adolescence.

Utilizing spatial autoregressive models to identify peer effects among adolescents

This study analyzes peer influences in a variety of adolescent developmental outcomes and explores the robustness of the results with regard to alternative specifications of the interaction matrix and the model. I employ the spatial autoregressive (SAR) model with group fixed effects in Lee et al. (Econom J 13(2):145–176, 2010) to separately identify endogenous, contextual, and correlated effects. I find evidence for both endogenous and contextual effects for all outcomes under consideration, even after controlling for confounding effects. I also find that a simple spatial weights matrix with equal weight among friends will serve the estimation purpose satisfactorily for the standard SAR model with a single row-normalized weighting matrix. The results are sensitive to the friendship reciprocity assumption as well as alternative model specifications.

Adolescent developmental assets and service leadership

AbstractIn the field of positive youth development, it is generally asserted that developmental assets or positive youth development qualities contribute to positive adolescent developmental outcomes. In the context of training for service leadership, it is argued that the promotion of developmental assets would help university students develop the foundational competence of service leaders. In this paper, the lesson plan of Lecture Eleven in a course entitled “Service Leadership” run in The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is discussed. In the lecture, four developmental assets related to positive identity (self-esteem, self-efficacy, purpose in life and optimism about the future) proposed by Peter Benson are presented. In addition, the possible contribution of different developmental assets to the development of service leadership is highlighted. Moreover, students are encouraged to reflect on their self-identity and explore effective ways to promote their positive self-image.