Academic Achievements of Adolescents and Family Functioning

Abstract

This study is focused on academic achievement of adolescents and their relationship with family functioning. The study aims to reveal through several research methods the functioning of family ties (cohesion and flexibility) and the type of adolescents’ families, their academic achievements, as well as the demographic characteristics of families based on their categorization by type of functioning. To realize the goals of the study were conducted measurements of family functioning in order to determine the type of functioning and through semi-structured interviews and conversations were revealed characteristics of families by type of functioning. The study sample consists of adolescents (N= 32) and their parents (N=27). It was found that the gender of the adolescent, being a resident for the last 15 years in the capital versus new arrivals, education of parents, the density of the apartment and the economic situation have positive correlation with family functioning, which in turn is positively related to family support in the aid in learning and academic achievement of adolescents. The study also found that low levels of family cohesion and family functioning are related mostly with newcome families in the capital these last 15 years. The study found that these families have much more difficulties and challenges to face compared to resident families. The author makes recommendations for further studies on families during the migration processes.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2016.v5n3s1p157