Key words: Adolescents, Mediterranean diet, social cognitions, academic achievement

"Effects of health behaviors, social cognitions, demographics and parenting styles on academic achievement of Lebanese youth"

Academic achievement is important for it has significant implications for the individual, society, and the economy of countries. Arab countries including Lebanon show particularly low achievement on international assessment compared to other countries, which highlights the need for supporting educational improvement efforts in the region. To improve academic achievement, it is important to understand the factors influencing it. Evidence related to determinants of academic achievement in the Arab world and particularly Lebanon is sparse. This dissertation identifies the most important factors (health behaviours, socio-demographics, and social cognitions) affecting academic achievement of Lebanese adolescents and how changes in those factors influence change in academic achievement over a one-year period. This thesis also assesses the socialization practices in the Lebanese cultural context, and how parenting might affect determinants of academic achievement (health behaviours and social cognitions). It also examines an integrated parental and socio-cognitive model to explain academic achievement of Lebanese adolescents. The studies in this thesis provide guidance for the development of evidence-based culture specific intervention to improve academic achievement of Lebanese adolescents.

Click here for the live stream.