Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2004 Self-Reported Personal Problems of Adventist Academy Students Ellen Marsh Crosby Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Educational Methods Commons, and the Educational Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Crosby, Ellen Marsh, "Self-Reported Personal Problems of Adventist Academy Students" (2004). Dissertations. 305. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/305 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. Andrews University School of Education SELF-REPORTED PERSONAL PROBLEMS OF ADVENTIST ACADEMY STUDENTS A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education by Ellen Marsh Crosby July 2004 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 3138891 Copyright 2004 by Crosby, Ellen Marsh All rights reserved. INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. ® UMI UMI Microform 3138891 Copyright 2004 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ©Copyright by Ellen Marsh Crosby 2004 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT SELF-REPORTED PERSONAL PROBLEMS OF ADVENTIST ACADEMY STUDENTS by Ellen Marsh Crosby Chair: Shirley A. Freed Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University School of Education Title: SELF-REPORTED PERSONAL PROBLEMS OF ADVENTIST ACADEMY STUDENTS Name of researcher: Ellen Marsh Crosby Name and degree of faculty chair: Shirley A. Freed, PhD. Date completed: July 2004 Problem Adolescence is a time fraught with many challenges. There are no current studies prior to this one for Adventist academy students concerning the whole range of their personal problems. Method A survey of students in 14 Adventist academies was conducted in the regular classroom setting using the Personal Problems Checklist for Adolescents (PPC-A). The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Data were tested with One-way, Two-way, and Three-way ANOVA and correlation coefficients to determine differences between male and female, age groups 13/14 to 18/19, and in three different settings of day, boarding, and self-supporting Adventist academies. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Results Among the top 10 problems of Adventist academy students were: “poor study habits,” “worry about future job or college,” “not enough money,” “not enough exercise,” “tired and having no energy,” “no time to relax,” “poor sleeping habits,” “bored in school,” “having trouble concentrating,” “and being shy.” There were differences found among the three types of academies and between male and female students and among age groups. Self-supporting academies had more frequent problems reported; females reported an average of eight more problems than males and the tendency was for problems to increase by age, with 18-year-olds experiencing greater problems. All 13 scales of problems on the PPC-A were significantly correlated. Highest correlations were between emotions and social, emotions and parent, emotions and school, emotions and health, emotions and religion, and emotions and crisis problems. Conclusions Adventist academy students are in need of intervention, particularly for emotional problems and lack of balance between physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects of their education. Many students are experiencing crisis and are in need of help to know how to cope better with critical life events they are facing. permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. SELF-REPORTED PERSONAL PROBLEMS OF ADVENTIST ACADEMY STUDENTS A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Education by Ellen Marsh Crosby APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Dean, School of Education James R. Jeffery Membdn Jerome D. Thayer Member: Elvin S. Gabriel External: Tlay Davis Date approved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. This dissertation is dedicated especially to my grandchildren: Amanda, Jason, Eric, Andrew, Jennifer, Alissa, Jessie, Darron, Alana, Leah, Hannah, Anne, Calvin, and Casey, AND To all SDA youth 111 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ...................... ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................... xiii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 1 Background of the Problem ........................................ 1 Conceptual Framework of the Study ................................................ 5 Context of the Study ................................................................................ 9 Statement of the Problem ....................................................................... 10 Purpose of the Study .............................................................................. 11 Research Questions ................................................................................ 11 General Methodology............................................................................. 12 Significance of the Study....................................................................... 12 Definitions of Terms ................................ 13 Summary........................ 14 Organization of Dissertation .................................................................. 14 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ...................................................................... 15 Introduction ...............................................................................................15 Biological Problems............................................................................... 16 Health Habits ................................................................................... 16 Exercise Problems.........................................................................16 Sleep Issues ................................................................................... 17 Substance Abuse ...........................................................................18 Eating Disorders ............................................................................ 19 Personal Appearance ...................................................... 20 Psychological Factors...... 21 Emotional Problems ................. 21 Attitudinal Problems ........................................................................ 24 Dealing With Crises.................................. 25 Delinquency..................................................................................27 Adolescent G rief ...........................................................................28 Socio-Cultural Factors ..... 30 Family Problems.......................................................... 30 Divorce/Stepparent Issues .............................................................31 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Abuse ........ 32 Money Issues .................................. 33 Dating/Sex Problems ............ 34 Religion Problems ........................................................................... 36 Issues Affecting Seventh-day Adventist Youth ..................................38 Interpersonal Problems .......... 41 Vocational Problems .................................................................. 43 Psycho-Educational Problems ........................................ 45 School Problems ................................... 45 Gender Issues .................................... 47 Age-Grade Issues .................................................. 48 Biopsychosoical Approach....................................................................... 49 Summary................................................... 50 3. METHODOLOGY.................................