New thesis on academic aspirations and expectations among adolescents
Hi, there Melody Almroth, doctoral student at the Department of Global Public Health at Karolinska Institutet. On Friday 6 December you will defend your thesis. Tell us, what is your thesis about?
"My thesis focuses on academic aspirations and expectations among adolescents in Sweden. This includes both the relationship between own and parental expectations and their agreement and adolescent mental health, as well as factors at the school, family, and individual level which are related to having high expectations and aspirations."
What are the most important findings?
"High academic expectations or aspirations from parents and adolescents themselves and the agreement of the two, were associated with more positive mental health, especially concerning externalizing mental health problems. Having high academic expectations or aspirations was related to a positive overall school climate as well as the specific dimensions of expectations and student support as rated by teachers. Adolescent academic achievement, parental academic engagement, and parental expectations also predicted a positive shift in academic expectations."
How can this knowledge contribute to improving people’s health?
"Supportive school and family environments may influence the formation of higher academic expectations and aspirations and may in turn lead to better mental health and academic trajectories."
What are your plans for the future? Will you continue to conduct research?
"I will continue teaching an epidemiology course at DIS Study Abroad in Scandinavia. I am looking for jobs both inside and outside of academia."