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Testing Kohn's self-reliance hypothesis among high school adolescents.
Adolescence
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Self-reliance in adolescents, measured by curriculum choice, fosters a sense of well-being by reducing fatalism. Students with more autonomy in their education reported lower levels of fatalism, supporting previous adult findings.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Education
Background:
- Melvin Kohn's research established a link between self-reliance and well-being in adults.
- Previous studies indicate self-reliance correlates with lower fatalism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine if self-reliance promotes well-being among adolescents.
- To test the applicability of Kohn's findings in an adolescent population.
- To utilize high school curriculum assignment as a novel measure of self-reliance.
Main Methods:
- The study assessed self-reliance through high school curriculum assignments.
- Student levels of fatalism were measured as an indicator of well-being.
- Adolescents in less supervised, initiative-emphasizing academic tracks were compared to others.
Main Results:
- Adolescent self-reliance, indicated by curriculum choice, was associated with a greater sense of well-being.
- Students in academic tracks minimizing supervision and emphasizing initiative showed reduced fatalism.
- Findings align with previous research on self-reliance and well-being in adults.
Conclusions:
- Self-reliance is a significant factor in adolescent well-being.
- Educational environments that foster autonomy may reduce adolescent fatalism.
- The study highlights the importance of self-reliance in psychological health during adolescence.