Abstract

        As in our other studies of reading and math, we examine in this study if early ability in composition, as reported by the main parent, is symptomatic of strong families, parents and children, and whether or not inability in composition negatively affect the behaviour and character of girls and boys later on in the teen years, given other important variables.

        Also, how important are these other variables: education, religion, age, and region, e.g.?

        In 1995 39% of girls and boys aged 6 to 11 did very well in composition, 47% of the girls and 31% of the boys. This is a wider male-female gap than found in math, boys 54%, girls 49%; or in reading girls 58%, and boys 46%.

        Many groups of children were found associated with high ability in composition in 1995. Examples include those committed to helping other children in various ways, who took lessons in the arts weekly, and who never ignored their parent's punishment.

        When teens those who had had high ability in composition were less prone to have been questioned by the police, and to get upset easily, to smoke, to use LSD or acid, to sell drugs, to have had sex with a partner aged 14 or younger, or to have considered suicide.

        The more composition-skilled children had parents who punished consistently and were never angry when punishing child, who praised or talked often with their child, who worshipped weekly together and volunteered, and had higher education.

        The more composition-skilled were in families in which functioned well in terms of planning and communication of skills, and where relationships with the parents were good, and the whole family worshipped together.

        The more composition-skilled were more prone to be privately or home schooled, to attend a school with a high school spirit, where the child got along well with the teacher, and where academic performance seemed emphasized. Adults were concerned about safety.

        Among unexpected results was less likelihood of children with high ability in composition to have a Biblical faith affiliation, and greater likelihood of getting intoxicated when a teen, or of using birth control if sexually active and aged 16 to 19.

        Analytical results included the following: among teen boys and girls the level of disability in composition eight years earlier influenced attempted suicide. In addition, boys were prone to get upset easier, were less hopeful about the future, but less prone to drink.

        The influence was stronger on girls and more serious: more likely to smoke, to be questioned by the police, to get upset, and to have a higher body mass index.

        For example, worship frequency in 1995 had many positive effects on teen behaviour. Girls and boys were less likely to use marijuana, have sexual intercourse, but more likely to be happy.

        Girls, but not boys, were less likely to smoke, have close friends who used marijuana or other drugs, to get angry; and more likely to get along well with their mother and father, and to have parents who got upset. Worship had even greater positive influences on boys.

        Teen boys were less prone to drink, use LSD, to drink, to get intoxicated, to sell drugs, to vandalize, to be questioned by the police, to have married parents, though less likely to have a girl friend or to like the way they looked.

        Having co-habiting rather than married parents had several negative influences, more on girls than boys: for example, smoking, drinking, getting intoxicated, using marijuana, etc.