Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Kathryn Howell

Committee Member

Debra Bartelli

Committee Member

Meghan McDevitt-Murphy

Abstract

School engagement is a positive, malleable aspect of youth functioning. The present study examined the direct and interactive relations between social-ecological factors (i.e., maternal depression, maternal anxiety, youth social support) and youth school engagement among families exposed to adversity. Participants were 117 youths (Mage = 9.96, SD = 1.40; 51% female; 88.89% Black), and their female primary caregivers. Hierarchical linear regression modeling revealed a direct, positive relation between child social support and child school engagement. No direct relations were found between maternal anxiety or maternal depression and child school engagement. Social support moderated the relation between maternal anxiety and school engagement; among individuals with extremely low social support, higher maternal anxiety was related to lower school engagement. Results illustrate the importance of a contextual approach to exploring maternal and youth factors. Findings also may inform intervention development by highlighting the importance of social support among families exposed to adversity.

Comments

Data is provided by the student

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Open Access

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