Adolescent Agency: a conceptual model, measurement, and construct validity
Open Access
- Author:
- Bradley , Stephanie A
- Graduate Program:
- Human Development and Family Studies
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- October 02, 2013
- Committee Members:
- J Douglas Coatsworth, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Linda L Caldwell, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Eva Sharon Lefkowitz, Committee Member
Daniel Francis Perkins, Special Member - Keywords:
- adolescent agency
measurement
validity
incremental validity
positive youth development
intentional self-regulation
efficacy - Abstract:
- Agency is the ability to make decisions and take actions that shape the course and direction of one’s life. Research focused on adolescent development and positive youth development has only recently begun to articulate how youth agency should be conceptualized and how it develops. This study examines the measurement characteristics of a 9-item measure constructed to tap motivation, and cognitive and behavioral strategies for agency. Youth in 6th or 7th grades, and at least one parent or caregiver completed questionnaires as part of a larger research trial. Data from a total of 390 youth (72% White) and their parent(s) were analyzed. Results demonstrate a one-factor solution as the most parsimonious solution that is consistent for both genders. In SEM models examining construct validity, the agency measure demonstrated was positively associated with positive self-concept, life skills, , behavioral adaptation, and family processes. The measure was not associated with indicators of household resources (i.e., SES and financial strain). In hierarchical regression models examining incremental validity the measure demonstrated little value in models predicting positive youth development characteristics, and limited preliminary value in predicting risk behaviors. This dissertation contributes to the study of agency in three important ways. Conceptually, it adds clarity to the literature on agency by grounding the construct in three developmental meta-theories. Empirically, it illustrates that a short, parsimonious measure of agency was meaningfully associated with other psychosocial and familial constructs in expected ways. Further, findings from this study provide insight into the unique role that agency may play in risk behavior. Together, the conceptual and empirical work of this dissertation can serve to expand the literature on the measurement of adolescent agency.