Study Of High School Students Research Articles

Students’ connectedness is linked to higher gratitude and self-efficacy outcomes

Students’ connectedness to various social agents has been linked to specific domains of self-efficacy but little is known about the mechanisms linking connectedness to adaptive student outcomes. This research aimed to examine the associations of connectedness with academic self-efficacy (Study 1) and career development self-efficacy (Study 2) via the mediating effects of gratitude using prospective research design among Hong Kong high school students. Sample comprised 141 high school students in Study 1 and 132 high school students in Study 2. There was a 12-month interval between Time 1 and Time 2 survey administration. Study 1 showed that Time 1 connectedness to parents and peers positively predicted Time 2 academic self-efficacy through the mediating role of Time 2 gratitude. Study 2 demonstrated that Time 1 connectedness to parents and school positively predicted Time 2 career development self-efficacy via Time 2 gratitude. Converging evidence was reached on the mediating influence of gratitude on the link between connectedness and different domains of self-efficacy. Teachers, guidance counselors and psychologists are encouraged to provide increased opportunities for students to strengthen their peer relationships and connection with families in order to boost their self-confidence in performing academic and career developmental activities.

Alcohol drinking patterns among high school students in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAlcohol use is an important risk factor for morbidity, mortality and social harm among adolescents. There is paucity of data on alcohol use among high school students in Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with alcohol use among high school students in EthiopiaMethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of alcohol use and its predictors among high school students in eastern Ethiopia in April 2010. A sample of students was taken from all schools based on their enrollment size. Prevalence estimates and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Logistic regression was performed to adjust and examine associations.ResultsA total of 1721 students participated in the study. The mean age of the study population was 16.4 (SD 1.6) years. A total of 372 (22.2%; 95% CI 20.2 - 24.2%) students drink alcohol. Of these, 118 (31.7%) were females and 254 (68.3) males. Multivariate analysis indicated that males (OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.45-3.00), older age (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.01-1.34), having friends who used alcohol (OR 10.09; 95% CI 6.84-14.89) and living with people who use alcohol (OR 2.77; 95% CI 1.89-4.07) increased the odds of drinking among students.ConclusionThere is a high level of alcohol use among high school students in the study area. Involvement of parents, health workers and school authorities are necessary to avert the problem. Specifically, their involvement in awareness campaigns and peer education training are important to encourage students to avoid alcohol use.

Distorted Reflections: Media Exposure and Latino Adolescents' Conceptions of Self

Because Latinos are underrepresented and often negatively stereotyped in the media, concern is frequently expressed that repeated exposure to these portrayals may reflect poorly on Latino adolescents' self-esteem. To test this issue empirically, we conducted 2 studies examining associations between multiple dimensions of self-esteem and several forms of media use. Testing 40 Latino high school students in Study 1, we found that more frequent and more active TV viewing was associated with lower social and appearance self-esteem. Many of these general patterns were replicated in Study 2 with 115 college students and with several demographic controls. Additional analyses of possible moderators revealed more consistent negative correlations among women and among participants with a stronger Latino ethnic identity. Together, these findings provide powerful evidence of a potential link between media use and the self-conceptions of Latino youth.

School-Based Tests of the Triarchic Theory of Intelligence: Three Settings, Three Samples, Three Syllabi

Three studies were conducted at the middle and high school levels to assess the effectiveness of triarchically based instruction and assessment—which emphasizes analytical, creative, and practical thinking and learning skills as well as memory-oriented skills—to conventional instruction and assessment. Interventions emphasized reading in the context of instruction in language arts, math, physical sciences, social sciences, history, foreign languages, and the arts. There were 809 fifth-grade students in Study 1, 62 middle school students in Study 2, and 432 high school students in Study 3. Almost all students were from relatively lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds, and they were highly diverse in terms of ethnic background. In all studies, triarchic instruction was more effective than conventional instruction in improving student reading achievement.