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The influence of negative school climate factors on African American adolescent males' academic outcomes: The mediating role of internalizing and externalizing behaviors

Posted on:2014-03-02Degree:Ph.DType:Dissertation
University:The University of North Carolina at GreensboroCandidate:Herring, Melvin HFull Text:PDF
GTID:1455390008957045Subject:Sociology
Abstract/Summary:
This study explores the relationship between negative school climate factors (i.e., teacher neglect, peer rejection, discrimination) and academic outcomes amongst a sample of adolescent African American males. Specifically, this study directly examines a) the influence of negative school climate perceptions on the students' academic achievement (i.e., grades), and b) the mediating influences of internalizing and externalizing behaviors on this relationship. This study also examines the moderating effects of family factors on the associations between negative school climate and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Using a sample of 318 middle school African American boys from a larger study (N = 21,109), students reported on their perceptions of their school environments. Findings revealed that negative school climate perceptions were positively related to both internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Negative school climate factors were associated negatively with students' grades; however, the relationship was mediate through internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Findings also indicated that family processes may moderate the relationship between negative school climate and adolescent outcomes. Results suggest that school environments may have adverse effects on African American males' developmental outcomes. Implications for interventions and future research are discussed.
Keywords/Search Tags:Negative school climate, African american, Outcomes, Internalizing and externalizing behaviors, Academic, Adolescent, Relationship
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