• Physical Discipline and Adolescent Adjustment in the Jamaican Context
  Presented by: Delores E. Smith, C. Springer, S. Barrett

• Cambodian Adolescents' Academic Achievement: Does Parenting Styles Matter?
  Presented by: Sothy Eng

• Adolescent Development of Social Competence in Sub-Sahara Africa: Does Parenting Matter?
  Presented by: Njoroge Michael Mbito, Gary W. Peterson, Stephan W. Wilson, Shann Hwa Hwang, Dr. Kevin R. Bush

• Extended Childhood Disorder: An Exploratory Study
  Presented by: Robert Epstein, Katrina Kaminaka, Kim Vu

Abstracts

Physical Discipline and Adolescent Adjustment in the Jamaican Context

Presented by: Delores E. Smith, C. Springer, S. Barrett

The study examined the relationship between Jamaican adolescents' reports of physical punishment by parents and adolescents' psychosocial adjustment. Physical punishment was significantly associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes. Adolescents reporting being victims of physical punishment were at greater risk for adjustment problems than their non-victimized peers. However, unlike findings from research emanating from more industrialized cultures, sociodemographics were not associated with the incidence of physical punishment. Gender showed statistical significance on all psychosocial dimensions but not with physical punishment. Implications for policy decisions to reduce children's exposure to violence within that cultural context are discussed.

Cambodian Adolescents' Academic Achievement: Does Parenting Styles Matter?

Presented by: Sothy Eng

This study examined Cambodian adolescents' perceived parenting styles (monitoring, warmth, and autonomy-granting) in their academic achievement. Sample included 268 high school students (M=17.3 year-old). Structural Equation Modeling showed that academic achievement was predicted by adolescents' academic engagement and continue to college with perceived parenting as an indirect predictor via these two variables. Females performed better and were more engaged, but were less likely to continue to college than males. Adolescents having more number of siblings were less likely to continue to college. Conclusions: while tangible resources in Cambodia are limited, effective parenting is important in aiding adolescents' academic success.

Adolescent Development of Social Competence in Sub-Sahara Africa: Does Parenting Matter?

Presented by: Njoroge Michael Mbito, Gary W. Peterson, Stephan W. Wilson, Shann Hwa Hwang, Dr. Kevin R. Bush

Our study explores parenting dynamics that generate socially adaptable traits in adolescents from a society where previous research on this topic does not exist. Our paper focuses on Evaluating/expanding fundamental models of adolescent development within Sub-Sahara Africa. We intend to offer a critical analysis of existing models of adolescent development as well as to propose possible alternative conceptions of adolescent development within Sub-Sahara Africa. The study is part of the Cross-National Study on Adolescent Social Competence (ASC), a 12 nation cross-cultural survey study that focuses on how parents influence the development of socially adaptive behaviors by adolescents.

Extended Childhood Disorder: An Exploratory Study

Presented by: Robert Epstein, Katrina Kaminaka, Kim Vu

Following arguments advanced by Epstein (2010), a study was conducted to explore the possible validity and utility of a proposed diagnostic category called ""extended childhood disorder,"" characterized by excessive involvement with peers, conflict centering around control issues with authority figures, and mood problems centering around control issues with authority figures. 242 subjects, mainly in their teens and 20s, were evaluated. Diagnostic test scores proved to be good predictors of subjects' happiness, anger, depression, and anxiety, as well as of hospitalization history, history of therapy, and other criterion variables. Regression and factor analyses also supported the concept's clinical validity.