Defining and assessing adolescent apathy.
Item
-
Title
-
Defining and assessing adolescent apathy.
-
Identifier
-
AAI9917660
-
identifier
-
9917660
-
Creator
-
Handelman, Ron.
-
Contributor
-
Adviser: David Rindskopf
-
Date
-
1999
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Psychology, Psychometrics | Education, Secondary | Education, Educational Psychology | Education, Guidance and Counseling | Psychology, Developmental | Psychology, Behavioral
-
Abstract
-
A trend toward increasing generalized apathy, and academic and social disengagement appears to exist among adolescents in the 1990s. In an investigation of existing literature, a clear, consistent definition of adolescent apathy was not identified, and a specific instrument for the assessment of the construct was not found.;In the current study, adolescent apathy was defined as the absence of interest in most activities, accompanied by a decrease or cessation in goal-setting and goal-directed behaviors. The apathetic person is indifferent to changes that occur about him/her; has difficulty making decisions; and does not display energy or enthusiasm in most situations, as judged by family members, teachers, self and close others.;An 81-item self-report inventory, entitled Adolescent Apathy Inventory (AAI) was created and distributed to 607 high school students between the ages of 14 and 19, in four different schools. Additionally, students were given a demographics survey and the Reynold's Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS). Apathy is often considered a symptom of depression; however, it was hypothesized that adolescent apathy can exist independently of depression.;Internal consistency reliability for the scale was strong (.93). Test-retest reliability was statistically significant. Construct validation was accomplished through the factoring of the scale into five discrete (and reliable) subscales, each of which contained items pertaining to components of the adolescent apathy definition. AAI scores were correlated with RADS scores; a moderate association between depression and adolescent apathy was found. Criterion-referenced validity was measured by correlating AAI scores with guidance counselors' assessments of apathy. Total scores for the AAI were distributed normally.;The AAI may be considered a valid and reliable measure of adolescent apathy. It takes approximately 10--15 minutes to administer. The scale identified students who might be poorly prepared for college or adulthood. Apathetic teenagers are less likely to join teams, clubs and academic organizations; their interests are vague; they may not know how to set specific, realistic goals for themselves; and they usually have more social and behavioral problems than nonapathetic individuals. Once highly apathetic students are identified, it might be possible to design school-based and community-based interventions.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
