Maternal Attitudes and the Non-Achievement Syndrome.

This study investigated the relationship between the mother-child relationship and academic achievement The population consisted of 45 male achievers and underachievers from a local suburban high school and their mothers. The nature of the mother-child relationship was measured by the Mother-Child Relationship Evaluation. Generally it was found that mothers of achievers were more accepting of their children than were mothers of underachievers.. Further, achievers and underachievers differed in the ability to perceive accurately the maternal attitudes, These findings were interpreted in terms of the etiology of underachievement as described by Roth and Meyersburg in the Non-Achievement Syndrome. These dynamics involve maternal rejection and the attempts of the underachiever to maintain a dependent relationship with the parents, and the avoidance of adolescent independence via underachievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]