PERSONALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CORRELATES OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN OJIBWA INDIAN YOUTH*

High School Personality Questionnaire profiles, grades, and boarding home information were obtained for almost the entire Grade 9 and 10 native Indian student population in the districts of Kenora, Rainy River, and Thunder Bay (Ontario, Canada) in order to discover the factors that relate to the high incidence of academic failure among native students. Native Indian youth as a group differed from white population in personality traits, but the lack of a strong correlation between these personality traits and school grades suggests that the personality traits characteristic of an Indian population are not the primary cause of school failure. Students who came from remote reserves were better adjusted than those who lived within driving distance of white settlements and had greater opportunities for acculturation. There was no correlation between school grades and boarding home conditions. Female students showed less variability in personality structure than males, and seemed less affected by changes in culture and boarding home conditions. A comparison of native students in academic and occupational programs revealed some personality differences among males but none among females.     

Physical activity and sedentary behavior: a population-based study of barriers, enjoyment, and preference.

The associations of physical activity and sedentary behavior with barriers, enjoyment, and preferences were examined in a population-based mail survey of 1,332 adults. Respondents reporting high enjoyment and preference for physical activity were more likely to report high levels of activity. Those reporting cost, the weather, and personal barriers to physical activity were less likely to be physically active. Preference for sedentary behavior was associated with the decreased likelihood of being physically active, and the weather a barrier to physical activity was associated with the increased likelihood of sedentary behavior. These constructs can be used to examine individual and environmental influences on physical activity and sedentary behavior in specific populations and could inform the development of targeted interventions.