This high level of self-esteem and a positive attitude toward school are important explanatory factors in school achievement for girls. For the girls, teacher support, parent support and positive school attitudes all contribute to academic success. For the boys, only parent support is an important predictor, with teacher support and personal attitudes playing less significant roles. Since boys seem more dependent on parental support, and are less likely to develop independent attitudes that support school, they may be vulnerable to school problems if parental support is diminished in any way. Given that adolescence is most typically accompanied by a distancing between parents and children, boys' difficulties with school may be anticipated.
Early adolescence appears to be a positive time for youth.
However, this is somewhat contrary to other findings for this age group and particularly for girls. Researchers will need to determine the factors at play here and monitor this trend over the long term. If this period of adolescence proves to be a good phase for many cohorts of Canadian children, perhaps it could be an opportunity for intervention - intervention that would build upon this solid foundation to buffer against more difficult times in late adolescence.