Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Mary Enright

Abstract

The primary goal of this study was to explore whether individual resiliency factors measured by the Resilience Scale (RS) influence academic success for Bermudian foster care adolescents, a population previously unstudied in the literature. Academic vulnerability is a concern for foster care adolescents, and more empirical studies need to be conducted to increase understanding of the variables that affect academic success for this population. Resiliency is a conceptual framework based on a positive developmental focus. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the relationship between resilience and academic success among 51 Bermudian foster care adolescents who attended Bermuda public schools. Achievement scores and grade point average (GPA) were used to ascertain participants' levels of academic success. This study employed a nonexperimental correlational design using a multiple regression to analyze the relationships. Results revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between resiliency and reading achievement but no relationship between resiliency and GPA and resiliency and math achievement. The finding of the positive relationship between resiliency and reading could influence policymakers to reexamine current education policies to stress the importance of ensuring that all at-risk adolescents identified in Bermuda Public Schools acquire adequate reading skills.

Included in

Psychology Commons

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