Predictors of Academic Achievement, Health, and Delinquent Behavior:Comparision of Primary, Junior High, and Senior High Students

초록

This study examined the factors that influence academic achievement, health, and deliquent behavior of primary, junior high and senior high school students living in a city in Korea. A total of 970 primary school students, 891junior high school students, and 1,236 senior high school students completed a questionnaire developed by Kim and Park (1997). The questionnaire assessed the following aspects: Attributional Style developed by Kim and Park (1997, scale measuring attributional to effort, ability, luck, fate, ingroup support, and outgroup influence), Self-Efficacy scale developed by Bandura (1997) and extended by Kim and Park (1997), a modified Individual-Oriented and Social-Oriented Achievement Motivation scale developed by Yu and Yang (1994), Social Support Questionnaire developed by Park and Kim (1997), Perception of Korean Society (Kim & Park, 1997), Perception of School Environment (Park & Kim, 1997), a modified version of Life-Satisfaction scale developed by Taft (1986), Cawte's (1972) stress scale, and various demographic and behavioral measures (including academic grade). The results indicate that for all students, parents play the most important role. However, as student matures, parents and teachers play a relatively less important role and the role of friends increase significantly. Although parents and teachers provide a positive influence to the students, some friends provide negative influence, such as engaging in problem and delinquent behavior. The results also indicate that self efficacy subscales are the most effective psychological constructs that explain academic achievement, health and delinquent behavior.