Year

2015

Season

Fall

Paper Type

Master's Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Arts in General Psychology (MAGP)

Department

Psychology

NACO controlled Corporate Body

University of North Florida. Department of Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Michael Toglia

Second Advisor

Dr. Dan Richard

Department Chair

Dr. Lori Lange

College Dean

Dr. Barbara A. Hetrick

Abstract

In order to obtain a closer look into the relationships between an at-risk populations’ family stressors and future school problem behaviors, a Latent Class Analysis (LCA) of family stressor variables was performed on at-risk elementary school girls from Health Zone 1. Participants were 308 girls with a mean age of 8.79 years. The dataset was inherited from the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center and analyses were run to uncover latent classes of family stressors. Class membership was then utilized to predict future behavioral referrals and suspensions from school. A total of three classes emerged from the LCA: “Exposure to Trauma”; “Familial Stress”; and “Stable Home.” Chi-square analysis between class membership and future behavioral referrals and suspensions failed to reach significance. However, chi-square analyses between class membership and some future family stressors were significant. It appears that latent classes of stressors can be uncovered, and these classes can be utilized in the meaningful prediction of outcome variables. Implications for researchers and policy makers are discussed.

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