The influence of positive youth development and family functioning on adolescent academic adjustment in families with parental divorce or separation

Abstract

Abstract Based on the five waves of longitudinal data (n=3328 at Wave 1), the influence of positive youth development (PYD) attributes and family functioning on academic adjustment and academic stress in adolescents growing up in families with parental separation or divorce at Time 1 was examined. Compared with adolescents without the experience of parental divorce or separation, adolescents with such experiences displayed poorer wellbeing and academic adjustment as well as higher risk behavior. At Wave 5, both PYD and family functioning positively predicted academic adjustment but negatively predicted study stress. Longitudinally, Wave 1 PYD predicted school adjustment at Wave 3 and perception of the new secondary school curriculum at Wave 5. While Wave 4 PYD had an influence on all academic-related measures at Wave 5, Wave 4 family functioning predicted school conduct at Wave 5 only. The protective role of PYD and family functioning in academic resilience in adolescents growing up in non-intact families is discussed.