a multidimensional model of individual functioning in middle adolescence: Exploring patterns of functioning, gender differences, and links to outcomes in young adulthood
Open Access
- Author:
- Gayles, Jochebed G
- Graduate Program:
- Human Development and Family Studies
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- October 20, 2014
- Committee Members:
- J Douglas Coatsworth, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Mark T Greenberg, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Peter Cm Molenaar, Committee Member
Stephanie Trea Lanza, Committee Member
Robert Nix, Committee Member - Keywords:
- adolescence
wellbeing
individual functioning
behavior
psychological functioning - Abstract:
- Understanding multiple aspects of individual functioning among adolescents, across positive and negative attributes, remains a national and public health concern. Middle adolescence provides a unique period for examining a multidimensional model of individual functioning as these youth are still navigating the biological, physical, cognitive, emotional and social transitions accompanying adolescence (Wigfield, Byrnes, & Eccles, 2006); and how they navigate these changes can have lasting effects on individual development. Therefore, this dissertation sought to examine the implications of a multidimensional model of individual functioning for middle adolescents. This objective was addressed via: 1) identifying subgroups of youth who could be distinguished given their patterning of positive and negative aspects of psychological, cognitive and behavioral functioning; 2) examining whether boys and girls were disproportionately classified into identified patterns of functioning; and, 3) investigating the longitudinal predictive association of patterns of individual functioning for young adult social and health status outcomes. Information on several aspects of individual functioning at middle adolescence obtained from a nationally representative sample of youth aged 14 – 16 (N = 3,295). A person-centered methodological approach was used to classify adolescents into homogenous subgroups given their level of functioning on eleven variables representing positive and negative aspects of behavioral, cognitive and psychological functioning. This sample was followed into emerging and young adulthood (ages 19- 26) and their social and health status (lifetime educational attainment, adult criminal arrests and convictions, and past-year substance use related social problems) was assessed. Patterns of functioning during adolescence were associated with social and health status in young adulthood. The findings of this dissertation demonstrate how middle adolescents could be classified into distinct subgroups characterizing healthy and less healthy functioning. Five groups were identified: “Well Adjusted”, “Aggressive Youth”, “High Risk Youth”, “Substance Users” and “Low Positive Affect”. As hypothesized, the identified patterns illustrated that adolescents could exhibit multiple configurations of effective and less effective functioning across psychological, cognitive and behavioral domains. In addition, results from this dissertation illuminate individual differences in experiences and functioning during adolescence differentially predicts educational attainment, criminal arrests and substance use related social problems in young adulthood. This latter finding supports the notion of potential multifinality and equifinality in individual functioning (Cicchetti & Blender, 2006; Cicchetti & Rogosch, 1996); in particular the findings show how 1) multiple patterns of functioning are predictive of substance use and social problems in young adulthood and 2) High Risk Youth were at risk for all these outcomes reflecting social and health status in young adulthood. Future investigations are needed to further understand the importance of 1) positive and negative aspects of functioning, 2) the inclusion of other domains (e.g., social-emotional functioning) within the individual and, 3) to examine stability and change in patterns of individual functioning for from adolescence into young adulthood.