Sanna Kervinen & Kaisa Aunola

The role of parenting styles on children’s achievement strategies and their development during the first grade

The study investigates the role of mothers’ and fathers’ parenting styles (i.e., affection, behavioral control and psychological control) on children’s achievement strategies during the transition to primary school. The participants were 152 first-grade children and their parents. Parenting styles were measured at the beginning of the first school year using a questionnaire. Children’s achievement strategies were measured twice using observation in a test situation: at the beginning and at the end of the first grade. At the first measurement point, their skills in reading and math were also tested. The results showed that the use of task-avoidant strategy during the first grade was more typical for boys than for girls. Moreover, mothers’ affection, in particular, predicted children’s adaptive strategies, such as decreased helplessness and anxiety during the school year. Mothers’ behavioral control had positive impact on boys decreasing their task-avoidant behavior during the school year. The role of fathers’ parenting styles was smaller than those of mothers.

Keywords: parenting styles, affection, behavioral control, psychological control, task-avoidance, mastery-orientation, learned helplessness, anxiety, transition to primary school

Annukka Vainio & Riikka Paloniemi

Values, trust and competence explain young adults’ participation in environmental policy

This study analyzed the predictors of young individuals’ interest in taking environmental political action in the municipal context in Finland. Data were collected by means of a survey of young people (ages 15–30) living in Finland (N = 512). The results revealed that post-materialist values and perceived political competence increased interest in environmental political action. In addition, trust in political parties and nongovernmental organizations were indirectly associated with interest in environmental political action. The results suggest how political authorities might develop policies to encourage young individuals’ participation in environmental politics, in order to encourage active citizenship and strengthen democratic practices.

Keywords: environmental action, municipalities, environmental psychology, political competence, post-materialism, trust